GB2142311A

GB2142311A - Compact pedestal-mount crane

Info

Publication number: GB2142311A
Application number: GB08416213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank S Foster; Gerald P Berger
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1983-06-29
Filing date: 1984-06-26
Publication date: 1985-01-16
Also published as: JPS6023288A; IT8421669A1; IT1176360B; GB8416213D0; GB2142311B; IN162961B; IT8421669A0

Abstract

A compact pedestal-mount crane has a frame (16) including a turnable (14) for attachment to a pedestal (12) and defining a vertical swing axis for the crane, a gantry (56) mounted on the frame and positioned over the axis, a boom (76) pivoted to the frame at its forward end, a plurality of hydraulically-driven winches (28, 32, 36) mounted on the gantry, an engine (40) mounted on the frame under the gantry with its longitudinal axis generally aligned with the gantry, and hydraulic pump means (44) attached to and driven by the engine for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure for the winches. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Compact pedestal-mount crane This invention relates to pedestal-mount cranes, and more particularly to such cranes commonly referred to as hydraulic offshore cranes.

The present invention physically arranges the necessary components of a hydraulic pedestal-mount crane so that the crane is compact, serving the need to conserve space which is at a premium on an offshore platform, so that the various crane components may be easily maintained and repaired or replaced, and so that the operation of the crane is safe and efficient.

The drawings are briefly described as follows: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the crane according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the crane shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the portion of the crane shown in Fig. 2.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings, wherein a crane upper, indicated generally at 10, is swingably mounted, i.e., rotatable about vertical axis 11, on a pedestal 1 2 supported on the deck of an offshore platform by a turntable 14. The turntable 14 is secured to and supports a frame 16, which has a front edge 1 8. A winch frame 20 is positioned to extend perpendicular to the front edge 18, is laterally centered over the axis 11, and extends substantially the length of the frame 16.The winch frame 20 is pinned at 22 to the frame 1 6 at its front end adjacent to the front edge 18 and is pinned at 24 to a pair of vertical links 26, which links are pinned at 27 to the frame 1 6. Main winch 28 driven by a hydraulic motor 30 is mounted on the winch frame 20. An auxiliary winch 32 driven by hydraulic motor 34 and a boom hoist winch 36 driven by hydraulic motor 38 are also mounted on the winch frame 20. An engine 40 is mounted on the frame 16 beneath the winch frame 20 with its fore and aft axis, i.e., the center line of its crankshaft, oriented perpendicular to the front edge 18 and passing through the axis 11.The engine's radiator 42 is positioned substantially beneath the links 26 and a pump 44 with multiple pump sections is attached to and driven by the engine, the pumps being located on the engine opposite the radiator.

A catwalk 46, which is substantially Ushaped in plan form, encircles three sides of, and is cantilevered from, the frame 16. A fuel tank 48 is suspended below the catwalk 46 at a position opposite the front edge 1 8 and supplies fuel for the engine 40. A hydraulic reservoir 50 is positioned at one end of the catwalk 46 with its forward end substantially in alignment with the edge 18. An operator's cab 52 is positioned at the other end of the U-shaped catwalk 46 and extends beyond the front edge 1 8 so that an operator therein has a clear line of vision downward and toward the side. An offset catwalk 54 is positioned outboard and beside the cab 52 and joins with the U-shaped catwalk 46 to permit ready ingress to and egress from the cab.

An A-frame gantry, indicated generally at 56, includes a pair of angled legs 58 pinned at 60 to brackets on the winch frame 20 and a pair of vertical legs 62 pinned to the rear of the winch frame 20 at 64. The pins 64 are positioned vertically above the pins 24.

Bracket 66 is secured to the upper ends of the leg 58 and pin 68 attaches the leg 62 to the bracket 66. Bail 70 having a multiple sheave pulley is pivotally attached between the brackets 66 by means of a pin 72. A bridle 74 having a multiple sheave pulley is attached to the tip of a boom 76 by pendants 78. A wire rope 80 is trained between the sheaves of the bail 70 and the bridle 74 and is wound on the boom hoist winch 36. The winch 36 controls the angle of the boom 76 which is pivotally attached at its base to the frame 1 6. A wire rope 82 wound on auxiliary winch 32 extends over sheaves on a boom tip extension 84 and has a hook 86 attached to its free end. A wire rope 88 wound on winch 28 is trained over a pulley or pulleys on the boom tip and supports a hook block 90.

The location of the cab, being forward of the front edge 18 of the frame 16, provides the operator with good vision, especially downward and sideward which is particularly important when working with ships from an offshore platform. The hydraulic reservoir is positioned at the end of the catwalk 46 so that it is readily accessible for maintenance and is positioned at an elevation which will provide sufficient static charge pressure to the inlet of the pump 44. The winches 28, 32 and 36 are mounted as low as possible with the catwalk extending along both sides to permit relatively easy access for maintenance and service. The engine 40 is tucked under the winch frame 20 and extends fore and aft in order to conserve space and to keep the tail swing, as indicated by the arc traced by arrow 92 in Fig. 2, to a minimum. The maximum swing clearance, as indicated by the arc traced by arrow 94, while larger than the tail swing is traced by a front portion of the crane near the boom and is less critical than tail swing, but in any event is traced by a point immediately adjacent to the operator so that visual checking of proximity to adjacent structures or articles may be easily done. Fuel tank 48 is located under the rear of the crane to facilitate filling and to keep any spillage away from the hot engine and hydraulic components.

Claims

1. A compact pedestal-mount crane comprising: a frame including a turntable for attachment to a pedestal and defining a swing axis for said crane; a gantry mounted on said frame and positioned over said pivot axis; a boom pivoted to the frame at its forward end; a plurality of hydraulically-driven winches mounted on said gantry; an engine mounted on said frame under said gantry with its longitudinal axis generally aligned with the gantry; and hydraulic pump means attached to and driven by the engine for supplying hydraulic fluid pressure for said winches.

2. The engine according to claim 1 and further comprising a generally U-shaped catwalk attached to said frame and extending around said gantry.

3. The invention according to claim 2 and further comprising a hydraulic reservoir supported on said frame and positioned at the end of one of the legs of said U-shaped catwalk.

4. The invention according to claim 3, and further comprising an operator's cab supported on said frame and positioned at the end of the other of said legs and said Ushaped catwalk.

5. The invention according to claim 1, and substantially as described with reference to or as shown by the Drawings.