EP1466856B1 - Mobile crane with outrigger structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mobile crane with a rotatable about an upright axle superstructure, which carries a crane boom with lifting means, an undercarriage with crawler tracks, which carries the superstructure, and a supporting device having a plurality of raisable and lowerable outriggers.

From US-A-3 608 756 a wheeled tracked vehicle with a revolving about an upright axle superstructure, an undercarriage with crawler tracks, which carries the superstructure, and a supporting device having a plurality of raisable and lowerable outriggers, both the superstructure as Also, the undercarriage can be rotated about an upright axis relative to the support device.

For some special tasks, it may be necessary that the respective crane is movable on the one hand, but on the other hand may only have a very narrow track width, since the path along which the crane can be moved has only a limited width. Sometimes there is only a width of a maximum of four meters to disposal. If it reaches high lifting heights and relatively high loads must be lifted, a correspondingly large crane must be used, which can be moved very difficult with a chassis of the aforementioned narrow gauge. The procedure with a rubber-tired crane is generally not possible with erect equipment, since the soft rubber tires insufficient lateral stability is guaranteed. On the other hand, with crawler tracks with only a very small gauge steering of the crane is difficult because there is almost no distance between the caterpillars and Consequently, by braking a chain or by driving in opposite directions of the two tracks steering is no longer possible.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved mobile crane of the type mentioned above, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and the latter further develops in an advantageous manner. Preferably, a crane is to be created with a crawler track only very narrow track width, which is still steerable in the process.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a mobile crane according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, it is thus provided that both the superstructure and the undercarriage are rotatable about an upright axis relative to the supporting device. Expressed differently, this means that the entire support device, including all outriggers, can be rotated both about the superstructure and the undercarriage about a substantially vertical axis. The rotatability of the uppercarriage and lowercarriage relative to the supporting device is also and especially in the operating position of the supporting device, i. So with remote to the ground Abstützfüßen guaranteed. To rotate the crawler undercarriage in the supported on the ground position of the support device, the crawler chassis can be lifted off the ground, so that the crane stands alone on the support device. It can therefore be used to steer the crane, the support device. By means of this, the crane is supported on the ground, so that the crawler undercarriage can be lifted off the ground. The crawler undercarriage is turned in the new direction of travel and lowered back to the ground so that the crane can then drive in the desired new direction of travel.

In a further development of the invention it is provided that the superstructure and the undercarriage can be rotated independently relative to the support device. When turning the undercarriage with the crawler chassis is not forcibly turned the superstructure and vice versa. Between the superstructure and the supporting device, a first rotary connection is provided. Between the support device and the undercarriage, a second rotary joint is provided, through which the three subassemblies superstructure, support device and undercarriage can each be rotated individually. Preferably, each of the rotary joints is assigned a separate rotary drive which can be actuated independently of one another in order to achieve the respectively individual rotary movement. A first rotary drive may be provided for rotating the upper carriage, while a second rotary drive is provided for rotating the lower carriage relative to the supporting device. Instead of two separate rotary actuators, however, it would also be conceivable, if necessary, to provide only one common rotary drive on the supporting device, which can be coupled with either the superstructure or the undercarriage or with both carriages simultaneously, so that, depending on the coupling state, the respective desired assembly is rotated relative to the supporting device can be.

In order to rotate the undercarriage lifted off the ground crawler chassis, the support device may be designed such that it can lift the entire crane including undercarriage and uppercarriage. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that the undercarriage has a liftable crawler track. In this case, the support should only be driven with their outriggers on the ground, without raising the uppercarriage and the entire undercarriage. In any case, however, the steering movement of the crane takes place by lifting the crawler track from the ground and turning the undercarriage relative to the standing on the ground support device, which carries the entire weight of the crane.

In order to allow an unlimited steering movement, the support device preferably has Aufstandsspunkte, all of which lie outside the turning circle of the undercarriage and the attached crawler track. As a result, the undercarriage can be freely rotated in the desired new direction of travel. Preferably, it can be freely rotated by the support freely 360 °.

To steer the crane in each new desired direction of travel, a control device is provided in a further development of the invention, which specifies a certain sequence of rotational movements of the superstructure on the one hand and the undercarriage on the other. The control device controls the lowering of the support device and its rotation relative to the uppercarriage or undercarriage. In particular, the control device provides that first the support device is lowered and then the crawler undercarriage is lifted off the ground. Then, the undercarriage is rotated with raised from the ground crawler undercarriage in the new desired direction of travel. Finally, the control device causes the crawler chassis lowered on the ground and the support device is raised. In order to achieve increased safety when steering, the control device provides a time-shifted turning of the uppercarriage and lowercarriage. Uppercarriage and undercarriage are not simultaneously rotated in the new direction of travel. In particular, the control device operates such that upon rotation of the upper carriage in the new direction both the support device and the crawler undercarriage are on the ground, preferably the undercarriage and the support device look in different directions, i. either the undercarriage is already rotated in the new direction, while the support device still looks in the old direction, or it is already the support device are rotated in the new direction, while the undercarriage is still looking in the old direction. This ensures a particularly safe getting up of the crane. In this case, either before the rotation of the superstructure, first the supporting device with its support arms and feet or, after appropriate lifting, first the crawler undercarriage are rotated in the new direction of travel. In both cases, however, then both the support device and the crawler undercarriage is driven to the ground before twisting the superstructure.

The track width of the crawler track can be chosen differently and adapted to the respective available width of the track. Preferably, the undercarriage including the crawler track has a width over anything of a maximum of four meters. The external length of the tracks of the crawler track can be more than twice as large as the overall width of the undercarriage including the crawler track. Based on the track width, which corresponds to the distance of the longitudinal center axes of the outer tracks, a crawler chassis can be provided with a ratio of track width to track length of about one-third or less.

Advantageously, the support device can be adjusted in width transversely to the direction of travel. To broaden the footprint, the support device can have transverse to the direction of travel extendable support arms that can be retracted for driving. Preferably, the support device has support arms pivotable about an upright axis, at the projecting end of which lifting and lowering support feet are provided. The support arms can be swung out into an operating position and swung together in a driving position, wherein they preferably do not survive in the driving position over the entire width of the undercarriage.

In a further development of the invention, the crane is modular in terms of its subassemblies superstructure, support device and undercarriage. Advantageously, the respective crane can be assembled according to the modular principle. In particular, a releasable connection can be provided between the support device and the undercarriage, which allows to set the support device with the superstructure arranged thereon on different undercarriage. This makes it possible to put the crane for special tasks on a narrow-track crawler chassis, while for conventional tasks in which a wider track available, a conventional chassis with normal track width can be used.

The support device may have a central center part, to which a plurality of support arms attached and an uppercarriage bearing for rotatably supporting the uppercarriage and a lowercarriage bearing for rotatably supporting the undercarriage are provided. To achieve a modular design, the uppercarriage is Preferably formed complementary to the undercarriage bearing, ie the uppercarriage of the central part of the support device corresponds to the provided on the undercarriage bearing the middle part and the uppercarriage. The lowercarriage of the Abstützvorrichtungsmittelteils, however, corresponds to the camp, which is provided on the uppercarriage. Due to the mutually complementary formation of the superstructure and sub-carriage bearings of the Abstützvorrichtungsmittelteils, it is possible that the superstructure is also placed directly on the undercarriage. If the support device is not needed, it can be dismantled and upper and lower cars are directly connected. Advantageously, releasable quick connections are provided on the one hand between the superstructure and the support device and on the other hand between the support device and the undercarriage, to allow rapid rebuilding.

Fig. 1

eine Frontansicht a) und eine Draufsicht b) eines fahrbaren Krans nach einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung, wobei der Unterwagen und der Oberwagen des Krans sowie die Abstützvorrichtung in Fahrtrichtung gedreht sind, die Abstützvorrichtung jedoch ausgefahren und auf den Boden abgesenkt ist,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht a) und eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus Fig. 1, wobei in der Draufsicht b) ein Abstützarm der Abstützvorrichtung in seine Fahrtstellung eingeschwenkt ist und der Oberwagen nicht dargestellt ist,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei die Abstützarme der Abstützvorrichtung in Fahrtstellung zusammengeschwenkt sind,

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei die Abstützvorrichtung aus der Fahrtstellung abgesenkt wurde und der Unterwagen mit vom Boden abgehobenem Raupenfahrwerk um 90° gedreht wurde,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei im Vergleich zur Fig. 4 auch der Oberwagen um 90° gedreht wurde,

Fig. 6

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei im Vergleich zur Fig. 5 auch die Abstützvorrichtung in die neue Fahrtrichtung gedreht wurde,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran ähnlich Fig. 3 in einer alten Fahrtrichtung vor dem Lenken in die gewünschte neue Fahrtrichtung,

Fig. 8

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus Fig. 7, wobei zunächst nur die Abstützvorrichtung in die neue gewünschte Fahrtrichtung um 90° gedreht wurde,

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus den beiden vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei im Vergleich zur Fig. 8 auch der Oberwagen in die neue Fahrtrichtung gedreht wurde, während der Unterwagen noch in der alten Fahrtrichtung steht,

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf den Kran aus den vorhergehenden Figuren, wobei im Vergleich zur Fig. 9 schließlich auch der Unterwagen in die neue Fahrtrichtung gedreht wurde, und

Fig. 11

eine Frontansicht a) und eine Draufsicht b) ähnlich der Fig. 1 auf den Kran, wobei anstelle des Unterwagens mit dem Schmalspurfahrwerk ein Unterwagen mit einem breiteren Fahrwerk montiert wurde.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and associated drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a front view a) and a top view b) of a mobile crane according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the undercarriage and the superstructure of the crane and the support device are rotated in the direction of travel, but the support device is extended and lowered to the ground,

Fig. 2

a side view a) and a plan view of the crane of Figure 1, wherein in the plan view b) a support arm of the supporting device is pivoted into its driving position and the superstructure is not shown,

Fig. 3

a top view of the crane from the preceding figures, wherein the support arms of the support device are pivoted together in the driving position,

Fig. 4

a plan view of the crane of the preceding figures, wherein the support device has been lowered from the driving position and the Undercarriage with the crawler undercarriage lifted off the ground was turned by 90 °,

Fig. 5

a top view of the crane from the preceding figures, wherein in comparison to FIG. 4, the superstructure has been rotated by 90 °,

Fig. 6

2 is a top view of the crane from the preceding figures, the support device also being rotated in the new direction of travel compared to FIG. 5,

Fig. 7

a top view of the crane similar to Figure 3 in an old direction of travel before steering in the desired new direction,

Fig. 8

7 is a plan view of the crane, wherein initially only the support device was rotated in the new desired direction of travel by 90 °,

Fig. 9

a top view of the crane from the two preceding figures, wherein in comparison to FIG. 8, the superstructure was rotated in the new direction while the undercarriage is still in the old direction,

Fig. 10

a plan view of the crane from the preceding figures, wherein in comparison to Figure 9, finally, the undercarriage was rotated in the new direction, and

Fig. 11

a front view a) and a top view b) similar to FIG. 1 on the crane, wherein instead of the undercarriage with the Schmalspurfahrwerk an undercarriage with a wider chassis was mounted.

The mobile crane 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a superstructure 2, a supporting device 3 and an undercarriage 4.

The superstructure 2 comprises a crane boom, not shown, with lifting means, which can be designed as a telescopic boom which can be tilted about a horizontal axis. The upper carriage 2 further includes ballast 5, a cab 6 and various drive units 7 such. B. a hoist with associated hoist drive, a luffing cylinder with associated hydraulic drive for erecting the crane jib.

The superstructure 2 is mounted rotatably about a substantially vertical axis of rotation 8 on the supporting device 3, wherein between the superstructure 2 and the supporting device 3, a quick release quick connection 9 is provided. About a superstructure rotary drive 10, the superstructure 2 can be rotated relative to the support device 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supporting device 3 comprises a central, frame-like middle part 11, which may have an annular structure. At the central portion 11 four support arms 12 are fixed, which can be pivoted about respective vertical pivot axes 15 by means of associated actuating cylinder 16 between the driving position and operating position. At the outer ends of the support arms 14 Abstützfüße 17 are provided which can be lowered and lifted by suitable actuators, for example in the form of hydraulic cylinders 18. In the pivoted-up driving position, the support arms 14 with the support feet 17 attached thereto are not above the maximum width of the undercarriage 4. In the swung-out operating position, i. Support position, define the Abstützfüße 17 essentially an insurgency square. The lateral distance of the support legs 17 transverse to the direction of travel is more than twice as large as the track width of the narrow-track chassis of the undercarriage 4.

The support device 3 is seated with the central central part 11 about a substantially vertical axis of rotation 19, which is coaxial with the axis of rotation 8, rotatable on the undercarriage 4. A lower carriage 20 allows rotation between the support device 3 and the undercarriage 4, regardless of the upper carriage. 2

Conversely, the support device 3 can be rotated via the upper carriage 10 independently of the undercarriage 4 relative to the upper carriage 2.

The undercarriage 4 has a crawler track 21, which has two continuous right and left caterpillar tracks 22 in the illustrated embodiment. The crawler chassis 21 may be rigidly attached to the undercarriage 4. Via caterpillar drives 23, the caterpillars can be driven. In the illustrated embodiment, the maximum defined by the tracks 22 total width of the undercarriage 4 is four meters, while the total length of the caterpillars, which also determine the overall length of the undercarriage, is about ten feet. The width of the undercarriage is less than 50% of the total length of the caterpillars.

As between the uppercarriage 2 and the supporting device 3, a quick-release quick connection 24 is provided between the undercarriage 4 and the supporting device 3, by means of which the supporting device 3 can be released from the undercarriage 4. The middle part 11 of the supporting device 3 in this case has an uppercarriage bearing 25 for rotatably supporting the uppercarriage and a lowercarriage bearing 26 for rotatably supporting the undercarriage 4, wherein the uppercarriage bearing 25 is designed to be complementary to the lowercarriage bearing 26. Is solved by releasing the quick connections 9 and 24, the support device 3 both the uppercarriage 2 and the lowercarriage 4 and removed, the uppercarriage 2 can be placed directly on the undercarriage 4. It is also possible by the releasable quick connections then, if no narrow-track landing gear is needed to grow another undercarriage 4. For this purpose, only the quick connection 24 needs to be solved and the supporting device 3 with the superstructure 2 sitting on it raised by lowering the support feet 12. The narrow-gauge landing gear is moved out and an undercarriage with another crawler undercarriage, which is shown in FIG. 11, is moved in. If the support feet 12 are retracted, the middle part 11 with the undercarriage bearing 26 is placed on the new undercarriage. As shown in FIG. 11, the undercarriage of this undercarriage may have a ratio of track width to track length of approximately ¾ to 1.

In order to be able to steer the crane with the narrow-gauge landing gear according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the following procedure is adopted:

In the pointing in the old direction of travel position according to Figure 3, first the Abstützfüße 17 of the supporting device 3 are lowered, so that the supporting device 3 raises the entire crane including the undercarriage 4 with the crawler chassis 21 from the ground. In this lifted off the ground position of the crawler chassis 21, the undercarriage 4 is then rotated by the undercarriage 20 relative to the support device 3 in the new desired direction of travel. As Figure 4 shows, the undercarriage was rotated by 90 °. Then the outriggers 17 are raised slightly again, so that the crawler chassis 21 comes to rest on the ground. The support feet 12 remain standing on the ground. Then, the upper carriage 2 rotates the upper carriage 2 relative to the supporting device 3 in the new direction of travel, so that the upper carriage 2 is again parallel to the lower carriage 4, as shown in FIG. 5.

Then the outriggers 17 are raised from the ground, to eventually rotate the support device 3 in the new direction can, as shown in Figure 6.

However, steering in the new direction of travel can also be accomplished differently, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10:

From the old direction of travel, the figure 7 shows, only the support device 3 is initially rotated in the new desired direction of travel, while the uppercarriage 2 and undercarriage 4 remain in the old direction, as Figure 8 shows. The rotation of the supporting device 3 is of course carried out with raised Abstützfüßen 17, wherein was rotated according to Figure 8 by 90 °, but of course can also be rotated by other angles.

After turning the supporting device 3 whose support legs 17 are lowered, and indeed so far that the crane 1 is both with the crawler chassis 21 and with the support legs 17 on the ground. Then, the superstructure 2 is rotated in the new direction until it is parallel to the supporting device 3, as shown in FIG.

If the uppercarriage 2 is looking in the new direction of travel, the outrigger feet 17 are extended further until the crawler undercarriage 21 of the undercarriage 4 is lifted off the ground. Now also the undercarriage 4 can be turned until it reaches the new direction of travel according to FIG. Finally, the outriggers 17 are raised again and lifted off the ground, so that you can continue in the new direction.

In the steering maneuvers according to FIGS. 3 to 10, the support device 3 can remain in its swung position, i. the support arms 14 do not have to be pivoted apart but can remain in their pivoted transport configuration. This has the advantage that the support feet 17 each come to rest on the paved path on which the crawler tracks then travel.

Claims (11)

1. A mobile crane comprising a superstructure (2), rotatable about an upright axis (8), which supports a crane jib with lifting means, a chassis (4) including a crawler track (21) which supports the superstructure (2), as well as an outrigger (3) which comprises a plurality of liftable and lowerable stabilizing legs (14, 17), wherein the superstructure (2) as well as the chassis (4) are rotatable with respect to the outrigger (3) about an upright axis (8, 19),
   characterized in that for steering the crane into a new direction of motion, a control device (27) is provided which first lowers the outrigger (3) and lifts the crawler track (21) of the chassis (4) off the ground, then, turns the chassis (4) with the crawler track (21) lifted off the ground into the desired new direction of motion, and finally lowers the crawler track (21) to the ground and lifts the outrigger (3) again.
2. The crane according to the preceding claim, wherein a first rotary joint (9) between the superstructure (2) and the outrigger (3) and a second rotary joint (24) between the outrigger (3) and the chassis (4) are provided through which the superstructure (2) and the outrigger (3) can be rotated independently from each other with respect to the chassis (4).
3. The crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis (4) together with the superstructure (2) can be lifted by means of the outrigger (3) so that the chassis can be rotated with the crawler track (21) lifted off the ground.
4. The crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outrigger (3) has ground contact points which are located outside the turning radius of the chassis (4).
5. The crane according to the preceding claim, wherein the control device (27) is formed in such a way that there is a time shift between rotating the superstructure (2) and the chassis (4) into the new direction of motion, wherein, when rotating the superstructure (2) into the new direction of motion, the outrigger (3) as well as the crawler track (21) of the chassis (4) stand on the ground while either the chassis (4) or the outrigger (3) has already been rotated into the new direction of motion.
6. The crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis (4) including the crawler track (21) has an overall width that is less than 50% of the outer length of the crawlers (22) of the crawler track (21).
7. The crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outrigger (3) has a central part (11) to which a plurality of stabilizing legs (14) are attached and which is provided with a superstructure bearing (25) for rotatably bearing the superstructure (2) and with a chassis bearing (26) for rotatably bearing the chassis (4).
8. The crane according to the preceding claim, wherein the superstructure bearing (25) is formed complementarily to the chassis bearing (26) and provides a detachable connection between the superstructure (2) and the central part (11) on the one hand and/or between the central part (11) and the chassis (4) on the other hand.
9. The crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outrigger (3) has stabilizing legs (14) which are extendable transversely with respect to the direction of motion in order to broaden the ground contact surface.
10. The crane according to claim 2, wherein a separate rotary drive (10, 20) is assigned to each rotary joint (9, 24), each of which can be operated independently from the other.
11. The crane according to claim 9, wherein the stabilizing legs (14) are stabilizing legs (14) that can be pivoted about an upright axis, outwardly into an operating position and inwardly into a driving position.

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