ES2685007T3 - Workshop crane - Google Patents

Abstract

Workshop crane comprising: - a base (1) with a front face and a rear face; - a column (2) that rises from the base (1) to a certain height; - an arm (3) articulated connected to said column (2) which has an operating system (4) and at which free end (5) a load securing element (6) is located; - at least one pair of legs (7) located on both sides of the vertical projection of the column (2) and joined by one of its ends to the front face of the base (1) which at its free ends comprise elements (8 ) front raceways, in which the legs (7) can be fixed in the extended position in the operational phase or collapsed on the column (2) when the crane is in the non-operational phase; - at least one rear rolling element (9) located on the rear face of the base (1) and - at least two intermediate wheels (10) located between the front rolling elements (8) and the element (9) or elements of rear rolling so that when the crane is without load it is supported on the element (9) or rear rolling elements and the intermediate wheels (10); characterized in that the crane is supported both with load and without load on the intermediate wheels (10).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Workshop crane

Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a crane of the type that is used in mechanical workshops, warehouses, etc. to lift heavy objects.

Specifically, the crane of the invention is of the type that is transportable by the user and can be easily changed position to operate where it is most needed because they have wheels or rolling elements.

Background of the Invention

Workshop cranes are devices commonly known and used in, for example, vehicle workshops or other places where mechanical work is carried out, where they are used to lift heavy objects safely and without the need for the operator to make any effort.

Said cranes, of which an example can be seen in the Spanish patent P201100368 in the name of this same owner, comprise a base provided with wheels or rolling elements by means of which to move the crane to the places where necessary, a column that it rises from the base to a certain height and an arm articulated connected to said column that is capable of ascending or descending driven by a hydraulic system. Finally, at the free end of the articulated arm there is a hook or element designed to hold or receive all or part of the object to be lifted.

As mentioned, one of the main functionalities of this type of cranes is that they are easily transportable by the user. Given their mobile nature, they become an ideal alternative to other types of heavier or structurally more complex cranes, such as bridge cranes, for example, in work environments where the parts to be transported do not exceed a certain volume or weight .

More specifically, and as can be seen in the example of the prior art, this type of crane has at its base a pair of legs of considerable size that provide stability to the crane when it is in operation, that is, when it is supporting a certain load. In that case, the center of gravity of the assembly will be located practically in the vertical of the free end of the articulated arm where the hook or similar that holds said load is located. Therefore, to achieve mobility, the cranes comprise two pairs of wheels or rolling elements, a first pair at the end of said legs and a second pair located either on other small legs or directly at the base, slightly displaced towards the outside the vertical projection of said column and in the opposite direction to the first pair of wheels. Although said wheel arrangement allows this type of crane to be transported by the user, the maneuverability achieved is reduced, requiring a large amount of space to be able to perform the turning movements.

However, since the loads to be displaced can become quite bulky, the free end of the articulated arm should be significantly separated from the column, leaving enough space to avoid bumps between the load and said column. For this reason, also the legs that the base has must extend in a length such that, as mentioned, they guarantee stability, which means that they must extend substantially beyond the vertical projection of the free end of the articulated arm .

This means that these legs are of considerable length, so they constitute an obstacle to the transit of people and machinery, as well as an impediment to the time of storage of the crane when it is not going to be used.

To solve this problem, some of these cranes have extensible or deployable legs that have one or more sections to fit together, joining together easily and quickly by means of pins, bolts, etc.

This solution, however, has the disadvantage that when the operator needs to modify the length of the legs, either to extend them or to pick them up, he needs a second operator to tilt the crane from behind so that the weight of this does not prevent the introduction or removal of the bolt or pin with which the sections thereof are attached.

More specifically, when the operator wishes to unhook the legs, the weight of the crane itself causes the bolt or pin to be pressed by the edges of the holes facing in the two sections of the legs that are to be disengaged and which it crosses transversely, through what its extraction will be complicated if someone does not lift the crane in such a way that this pressure is released and the pin or bolt is released.

On the contrary, if the operator wishes to hook two sections of said legs together, it will be impossible for him to be able to make up or face the aforementioned holes, through which to introduce, align or face each other the pin or pin if a second operator does not lift the crane enough so that these sections can be "coupled" conveniently.

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Another known solution of the state of the art is that shown in said document P201100368, which consists in providing said legs with an articulation or a point of depletion on the base of the crane, therefore, thus, instead of having to remove or retract sections of the legs, they can be folded over the column, leaving a space on the floor.

However, in said solution, it being necessary to secure the legs by means of a bolt or pin, both in its folded and unfolded position, so that the operator will still need the help of a second operator similar to the previous one, it is that is, slightly elevate the crane from the rear so that the first operator can make up the holes through which the pins or bolts that structurally secure the legs and prevent relative and unwanted movements that can destabilize the crane when it is located are introduced in charge, aligned with each other.

Finally, other examples are shown in US4190233, WO2008 / 090221, JP2014159331, US2012 / 319064, US2003 / 071003 or US7866332. Therefore, WO2008 / 090221 discloses a size crane according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

Description of the invention

The workshop crane object of the present invention resolves the aforementioned prior art inconveniences in that it allows the extension, shortening or folding operations of the crane legs to be carried out safely and comfortably by a single operator, which results in a saving of time and costs.

For this, a workshop crane is proposed that has all the technical characteristics as defined in independent claim 1.

The crane of waist includes the conventional elements:

- one base;

- a column that rises from the base to a certain height;

- an arm articulated connected to said column that is capable of ascending or descending driven by an operating system and at whose free end an element is placed to hold the load to be lifted;

- at least one pair of legs, located on both sides of the vertical projection of the column, joined by one of its ends to the front face of the base and extending beyond the vertical projection of the free end of the articulated arm;

- front rolling elements located at the free ends of the legs; Y

- rear rolling elements located on the rear face of the base and on both sides of the vertical projection of the column.

But, in addition, in order to facilitate maneuverability, and as will be explained below, the crane additionally comprises at least two intermediate wheels, located on the front face of the base, on both sides of the vertical projection of the arm and between the front rolling elements and rear rolling elements such that when the crane is unloaded it rests on the rear rolling elements and intermediate wheels.

In this way, by supporting the rear rolling elements and the intermediate wheels, located very close to each other, this results in better crane maneuverability and, therefore, in a more comfortable, therefore, quick handling. Safe and more comfortable to handle for the operator.

On the contrary, when the crane is in the operational phase, that is, under load, the center of gravity will move substantially forward, so that the crane will move on to the front rolling elements located at the ends of the legs. and in the intermediate wheels, obtaining a maneuverability similar to that obtained in a conventional manner in the state of the art, where said intermediate wheels do not exist.

Last but not least, the structure of the crane of the invention significantly improves the operations of extension-folding of legs or folding of the same, since now the intervention of a second operator that slightly elevates the crane from the rear part so that the first operator can flush the holes, through which the pins or bolts are introduced by means of which said legs are secured to the base, aligned with each other.

As described above, such assistance will no longer be necessary because, when the crane is not in an operational position, it is supported by the rear rolling elements and intermediate wheels and not the front rolling elements located at the ends. of the legs. In this way the operator can operate with one hand the bolt and with the other hand the crane leg, since it is in a raised position, facilitating the operations of removal and placement of the bolt.

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Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, a set of drawings is accompanied as an integral part of said description. where for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of the workshop crane of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a rear elevation view of the crane of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a profile view of the crane of the previous figures.

Figure 4 shows a top plan view of the crane of the previous figures.

Figure 5 shows, finally, a perspective view of the crane of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4. Preferred embodiment of the invention

In view of the described drawings, it can be seen how the crane of the present invention is formed in such a way that it comprises:

- a base (1) that has a front face and a rear face;

- a column (2) that rises from the base (1) to a certain height;

- an arm (3) articulated connected to said column (2) that is capable of ascending or descending actuated

by an operating system (4) hydraulic or similar type and at whose free end (5) a load securing element (6) is located, such as a hook or the like;

- at least one pair of legs (7), located on both sides of the vertical projection of the column (2), joined by one

from its ends to the front face of the base (1) and extending beyond the vertical projection of the end

(5) free of articulated arm;

- front rolling elements (8) located at the free ends of the legs (7); Y

- at least one rear rolling element (9) located on the rear face of the base (1).

Also, as can be seen in the drawings, especially in figures 3 to 5, the crane additionally comprises at least two intermediate wheels (10) located on the front face of the base (1), on both sides of the vertical projection of the arm (3), and between the front rolling elements (8) and the rear rolling element (9) such that when the crane is without load it rests on the rear rolling element (9) or rolling elements and the intermediate wheels (10).

In accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the intermediate wheels (10) will be of the so-called rotating or "guide" wheels, such that when they come into operation they allow the user to follow non-rectilinear paths, make turns, etc.

On the other hand, said intermediate wheels (10) will preferably be located on the outer sides of the legs (7) in order to increase stability, although possible embodiments (not shown) in which they are located on their inner side are not ruled out. .

Similarly, the rear element (9) or rolling elements may be mounted directly on the back of the base (1), as shown in the drawings, or through small legs or intermediate protuberances (not represented) as long as they remain close to the base. In other words, in the case of two rolling elements, these elements will be located on both sides of the vertical projection of the column (2) and in such a way that the imaginary or real axis that joins them cross or remain under the vertical projection of the column (2). Similarly, in the case that it was a single rolling element, not shown, this rolling element will be placed under the vertical projection of said column (2) in order to guarantee stability.

Finally, if you can see, especially in Figure 4, the bolts (11), pins or the like used to fix the legs (7), either in their extended position as shown or collapsed on the column (2) when the Crane is in non-operational phase.

Claims (8)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 1. Workshop crane comprising: - a base (1) with a front face and a rear face; - a column (2) that rises from the base (1) to a certain height; - an arm (3) articulated connected to said column (2) which has an operating system (4) and at which free end (5) a load securing element (6) is located; - at least one pair of legs (7) located on both sides of the vertical projection of the column (2) and joined by one of its ends to the front face of the base (1) which at its free ends comprise elements (8 ) front raceways, in which the legs (7) can be fixed in the extended position in the operational phase or collapsed on the column (2) when the crane is in the non-operational phase; - at least one rear rolling element (9) located on the rear face of the base (1) and - at least two intermediate wheels (10) located between the front rolling elements (8) and the rear rolling element (9) such that when the crane is without load it is supported on the element (9) or rear rolling elements and intermediate wheels (10); characterized in that the crane is supported both with load and without load on the intermediate wheels (10). 2. Workshop crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate wheels (10) are rotatable. 3. Workshop crane according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the intermediate wheels (10) are located on the outer sides of the legs (7). 4. Workshop crane according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate wheels (10) are located on the front face of the base (1) on both sides of the vertical projection of the arm (3). 5. Workshop crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear element (9) or rolling elements are mounted directly on the rear portion of the base (1). 6. Workshop crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the element (9) or rear rolling elements are mounted on the rear portion of the base (1) through intermediate protuberances. 7. Workshop crane according to any of claims 1, 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises two rear rolling elements (9) that are located on both sides of the vertical projection of the column (2) such that the imaginary or real axis that joins the vertical projection of the column (2). 8. Workshop crane according to any of claims 1, 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a single rear rolling element (9) which is located under the vertical projection of the column (2).