GB2069950A

GB2069950A - Support arrangement for vehicle cranes, building machines and other apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2069950A
Application number: GB8101269A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: O&K Orenstein and Koppel GmbH
Current assignee: CNH Industrial Baumaschinen GmbH
Priority date: 1980-01-18
Filing date: 1981-01-15
Publication date: 1981-09-03
Also published as: JPS56103643A; DE3001682A1; FR2474007A1; AR224045A1; DE3001682C2

Abstract

A hydraulically-operable support arrangement for a vehicle crane, which is retracted for road travel but can be extended to engage the ground when the crane is being operated with the vehicle stationary. The support arrangement comprises supports (22) which can be extended vertically to provide support in a restricted space and folding supports (18) which can be pivoted outwards to provide an enlarged support base. A saving in space is achieved by mounting each vertical support within a respective folding support, and various support configurations can be provided through different combinations of vertical and folding supports. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support arrangement for vehicle cranes, building machines and other apparatus The present invention relates to a support arrangement for vehicle cranes, building machines and other tool apparatus.

A known support arrangement for a vehicle crane is used to provide a larger support base when the crane is to be operated while the vehicle is standing still. The support arrangement comprises booms which are extended horizontally from the vehicle chassis, and cylinders, arranged at the free ends of the booms, are then operated vertically downwards to engage the ground so that support for the crane can be provided on a larger base. On even ground, satisfactory support can be achieved with this parallel support system but, on uneven ground, it may happen that the booms cannot be pushed out far enough laterally or, if the vehicle has sunk into the earth up to its axles, it may not be possible to obtain a sufficiently large support base.

A further known support arrangement utilizes folding supports that are articulated at pivots on the chassis of the vehicle crane and, when required, are swung by means of hydraulic cylinders in an arc to engage the ground. With this arrangement it is possible to raise a vehicle that has sunk into the earth up to its axles but, in restricted spaces, the arrangement cannot be used because the folding supports project too far.

The problem with which the invention is concerned is that of providing a support arrangement for a vehicle crane or similar apparatus, which can be used both in restricted spaces and on uneven ground in such a manner that the largest possible support base is obtained, but which can be accommodated on the apparatus in a space-saving manner.

The present invention provides a support arrangement for a vehicle crane, building machine or similar apparatus, comprising hydraulicallyoperable folding support members pivotallymounted on the chassis of the apparatus, and hydraulically-operable vertical support members.

By way of example, a vehicle crane constructed in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the vehicle in a state ready for travel; Figure 2 is a front view of the vehicle with a folding support swung out on one side and with an extended vertical support on the other side; Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of a retracted folding support and a retracted vertical support, both on one side of the vehicle; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a guide member for the vertical support of Fig. 3; and Figures 5 to 7 are diagrammatic plan views of the vehicle, showing different configurations of the support arrangement.

Figures 1 and 2 show a vehicle crane the lower chassis 10 of which can be moved on wheels 11 having rubber tyres. An upper chassis 1 2 is arranged on the lower chassis 10 so that it can swivel about a vertical rotational axis 13, for example from the Figure 1 (road travel) position to the Figure 2 position. The upper chassis 1 2 consists of a driver's cab 1 7 and a platform 1 4 on which the crane boom 1 5 is arranged so that it can pivot about the horizontal axis 1 6.

A support arrangement is provided on the lower chassis 10 and can be operated to engage the ground and provide a larger support base for the crane when the latter is to be used (Figure 2). For road travel (Figure 1), the support arrangement is retracted. The support arrangement comprises both folding supports 1 8 and vertical supports 22 which can be utilized to provide various support arrangement configurations, as will be described below.

The folding supports 1 8 are arranged so that they can each swivel about a respective pivot 1 9 on the lower chassis 10, from the retracted position of Figure 1 in which the support 18 extends vertically upwards from the lower chassis to the actuated position of Figure 2 in which the support extends outwards and downwards. The pivotal movement of each folding support 1 8 is effected by means of a respective hydraulic cylinder 20 which is located in the lower chassis 10 and the free end of which is pivotally coupled at 21 to the folding support 18.

Inside each of the folding supports 18, a respective hydraulic cylinder, constituting vertical support 22 is arranged. As shown in greater detail in Figure 4, each vertical support cylinder 22 is arranged in a bore 23a in a guide block 23 (Figure 4). Two faces of the block 23 are provided with pins 24 which have a common longitudinal central line 25 which passes through the line of action of cylinder 22 and represents the pivotal axis 1 9 for the respective folding support 1 8. As indicated in Figure 3, the block 23 is so arranged that the support cylinder 22 is vertical when the support 1 8 is in the folded-away (retracted) position: in this position, actuation of the cylinder 22 will extend the vertical support by moving the piston rod 22a downwards.The block 23 and pins 24 are manufactured from one solid workpiece, the pins 24 being formed by a machining process so that they are integral with the block 23.

The free ends of the piston rods 22a of the vertical cylinders 22 are provided with feet 26 for engaging the ground when the supports are extended. These feet 26 are removed for road travel, as shown in Figure 1. The free ends of the folding supports 1 8 are also provided with feet 18b for engaging the ground, these feet being pivotally coupled at 1 8a to the supports.

Figures 5 to 7 show various configurations of support arrangement, which can be provided by the folding and vertical supports 1 8, 22. Figure 5 shows a support configuration for use when the vehicle crane is confined on one side: the vertical supports 22 are used on this side while, on the other side, the supports 1 8 are folded out.

Figure 6 shows a support configuration for use when the vehicle crane is confined on both sides and, in this case, the vertical supports 22 only are used. Figure 7 shows a support configuration for use when the vehicle crane is confined on both sides at one end only: the vertical supports 22 are used at this end of the vehicle while, at the other end, the supports 18 are folded out. In those configurations in which the folding supports 18 are utilized, the pivotal mounting of the feet 1 8b of the supports will accommodate any unevenness in the ground that the feet engage.

An advantage of the arrangement described above is that, as a result of the combination of folding and vertical supports 1 8,22 the vehicle crane is more versatile compared with known cranes but nevertheless has a shorter overall length than apparatus using known parallel support arrangements so that a better manoeuvrability is maintained. The supports 22 provided at each corner of the chassis 10 for raising the vehicle vertically are used to support the vehicle in the smalllest possible space while the supports 18 enable an enlarged support base to be obtained, despite uneven ground, but can be accommodated in the vehicle in a space-saving manner. A further saving in space is achieved through the arrangement of the supports 22 within the supports 18.

Finally, although the support arrangement shown in the drawing is utilized on a vehicle crane, it could be utilized (where appropriate) on other forms of apparatus including, for example, building machines driven on Caterpillar tracks.

Claims

1. A support arrangement for a vehicle crane, building machine or similar apparatus, comprising hydraulically-operable folding support members pivotally-mounted on the chassis of the apparatus, and hydraulically-operable vertical support members.

2. A support arrangement according to claim 1, in which each vertical support member is accommodated within a respective folding support member, the line of action of the vertical support member passing through the pivotal axis of the folding support member.

3. A support arrangement according to claim 2, in which each vertical support member is arranged in a respective pivotally-mounted guide member, the pivotal axis of the guide member being the pivotal axis of the respective folding support member.

4. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the vertical support members are arranged at the corners of the chassis.

5. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each vertical support comprises a hydraulic cylinder assembly.

6. A support arrangement according to claim 5, in which each vertical support includes a groundengageable foot at one end of the cylinder assembly.

7. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each folding support comprises an arm pivotally-mounted on the chassis and pivotally movable by a respective hydraulic cylinder assembly.

8. A support assembly according to claim 7, in which each folding support includes a groundengageable foot pivotally-mounted on one end of the arm.

9. A support arrangement for a vehicle crane substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.