GB2370825A

GB2370825A - Crane vehicle with adjustable lifting mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2370825A
Application number: GB0129019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgem Appel; Walter Stowasser; Traugott Fess
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2000-12-04
Filing date: 2001-12-04
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Also published as: GB0129019D0; DE10061330A1; DE10061330B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a crane vehicle having a substructure (1, Figs 1 and 2), a superstructure (2), which is arranged rotatably on the substructure, and a first lifting mechanism (5), which is fastened on the superstructure (2), as well as a frame element (6), which is or can be fitted on the superstructure (2), on which counterweight elements (8-12) can be arranged and which also comprises a second lifting mechanism (7), which is arranged above the counterweight elements (8-10). In this case, the frame element (6) is provided with a plurality of fastening arrangements (22, 22') which are arranged at different levels in the operating position of the frame element (6), and the second lifting mechanism (7) can be connected to the frame element (6) via easily attachable connections such as bolts, at different heights on said fastening arrangements (22, 22').

Description

CRANE VEHICLE

This invention relates to a crane vehicle. It is comparatively complex and cost-intensive to transport 5 crane vehicles for high loads. This is because, for practical use, such crane vehicles frequently have to be provided with heavy and bulky additional arrangements which, on account of the road-traffic regulations, must not be transported in a state in 10 which they are already installed on the crane vehicle, but rather have to be conveyed by means of separate lorries to the use location. These additional arrangements include, in particular, the crane-vehicle counterweights which are necessary for increasing the 15 load-bearing capacity. These may be stacked in a frame element which is or can be fastened on the super structure of the crane vehicle. When a second lifting mechanism is required in addition to the usually provided main lifting mechanism (first lifting 20 mechanism) it is known to use, for the counterweights, a frame element on which the second lifting mechanism is fixedly installed. The second lifting mechanism is located above the counterweights.

25 If a frame element is fitted, with a second lifting mechanism, which is designed for the use of a very large counterweight, this results in an overall height which may be of the order of magnitude of from 2.5 m to 3 m. Since the loading height of road vehicles is 30 limited to a maximum of 4 m, it is thus necessary, for the purpose of transporting such subassemblies, to use low loaders which have a load-floor height of usually approximately 1 m, even if the respective usage only requires a relatively small number of counterweight 35 elements. In contrast, for transporting frame elements with a second lifting mechanism fitted, which from the

-2- outset are only designed for relatively small counterweights and thus have a correspondingly low overall height, it is still possible, on account of the relatively low overall height, to use lorries, which 5 have the conventional load-floor height of 1.65 m. The vehicles of the afore-mentioned category are not only more favourable in terms of the purchase costs, but also have, in particular, considerable advantages for transportation on difficult terrain, since they have a 10 considerably larger ground clearance.

An object of the present invention is to improve a crane vehicle of the aforesaid type so that the transporting cost for the frame element with the 15 counterweights and a second lifting mechanism is as low as possible, irrespective of whether a relatively large or a relatively small counterweight is required.

According to the present invention, there is provided 20 Crane vehicle having a substructure, a super-structure, which is arranged rotatably on the substructure, a first lifting mechanism, which is secured to the superstructure, and a frame element, which is fitted or fittable on the superstructure and on which 25 counterweight elements can be arranged, which vehicle additionally includes a second lifting mechanism and on which is arranged above the counterweight elements a second lifting mechanism, with the frame element being provided with a plurality of securing arrangements 30 which are arranged at different levels when the frame element is in its use position and with it being possible for the second lifting mechanism to be connected to the frame element via easily detachable connections at different heights on said fastening 35 arrangements.

This crane vehicle can be enhanced advantageously by including in its construction the features of the dependent claims.

5 The invention provides that the frame element, on which the required counterweight elements are fitted and which is provided with the second lifting mechanism, is provided with a plurality of fastening arrangements which are arranged at different levels in the operating 10 position of the frame element. In this case, the second lifting mechanism can be connected to the frame element via easily detachable connections at different heights on said fastening arrangements. This results in the situation where it is possible for the overall 15 height of the frame element, with lifting mechanism, to be reduced considerably for transportation purposes, specifically by the lifting mechanism being fastened on the frame element at a low height. If a relatively large number of counterweights is required, the second 20 lifting mechanism can be fastened in a sufficiently high position, for example, on a building site, with the result that the counterweight elements may be positioned therebeneath. If only a small number of counterweights is required, it is possible for the 25 second lifting mechanism to remain in a correspondingly low position from the outset.

The frame element should advantageously have fastening arrangements which allow the second lifting mechanism 30 to be fitted at least on three different levels.

For the easily detachable connection between the second lifting mechanism and the frame element, it is possible to use, in particular, bolt connections, but also, for 35 example, screw connections. In each case, rather than being fixed, that is to say non-releasably connected to

l -4- the frame element, the second lifting mechanism can be adjusted to different levels.

In order for it to be possible for the attachable 5 counterweight to be increased to a considerable extent, an advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for an intermediate plate to project laterally beyond the counterweight elements already fitted on the frame element and be provided with possible accommodating 10 means for further counterweight elements to be stacked laterally thereon alongside the second lifting mechanism. The counterweight elements usually have, in their accommodating surfaces, complementary shaped elements (e.g. convexities which can engage in 15 corresponding recesses) which ensure a form fit against unintended displacement of the counterweights in relation to one another. The projecting intermediate plate is thus provided with corresponding shaped elements. It is particularly advantageous if this 20 intermediate plate is designed as an adapter plate, i.e. if it is suitable for the appropriate stacking of counterweight elements of crane vehicles of different load classes which have different types, or different dimensioned, shaped elements and thus could not be 25 stacked directly on the crane-type-specific counterweight elements with the necessary form fit.

Such an adapter plate may be produced for different types of counterweight elements, with the result that it is possible to use different counterweight elements 30 in accordance with requirements.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same can be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the 35 accompanying drawings wherein:

l Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal view of a crane vehicle according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the vehicle of Fig. Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the vehicle of Figure 1.

Figs. 4 and 6 show variants of a frame element with counterweights and a lifting mechanism, and Figs. 5 and 7 show respective side views of the frame elements according to Figures 4 and 6.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a longitudinal view, a plan 15 view and a rear view of a crane vehicle embodying the invention. This exemplifying embodiment shows a six axle telescopic crane vehicle having a substructure l and a superstructure 2, which is arranged for rotation on the substructure and on which a main jib 3 with a 20 plurality of telescopic sections is secured.

Articulated on the underside of the main jib 3 is at least one luffing cylinder 4, the other end of which is connected to the superstructure 2. Arranged at the rear end of the superstructure 2 is a main lifting 25 mechanism (first lifting mechanism 5), on the steel structure of which a frame element 6 is fastened such that it can be bolted and unbolted. Counterweights can be stacked on the frame element 6, which also serves for accommodating a second lifting mechanism 7. The 30 counterweights, in this case, are in the form of five counterweight elements 8-12. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an intermediate plate 13 is arranged on the uppermost counterweight element 12.

The plate 13 is designed as an adapter plate and 35 projects laterally beyond the frame element 6. This is apparent from the different width and the pivoting

-6- radius. Whereas the width 14 of the frame part 6 corresponds to the width 15 of the crane vehicle, the width 16 of the intermediate plate is considerably larger. However, the pivoting radius which is 5 designated by 17 for the frame element 6 with the counterweight elements 8-12 fitted thereon, is increased only by a comparatively small amount, by the intermediate plate 13, to the pivoting radius 18 since the intermediate plate 13 advantageously projects 10 beyond the counterweight elements 812 to a lesser extent in the rearward direction and, in addition, has a rear side rim which approximates to a circular arc.

The counterweight elements 8-12 have recesses (not illustrated specifically) for the struts of the frame 15 element 6, in order that they can be stacked orderly one above the other on the frame element 6. As can be seen, in particular, from Figure 3, additional counterweight elements 19, l9' are stacked on the intermediate plate 13 to the left and right alongside 20 the second lifting mechanism 7, it being possible for said additional counterweight elements to originate from a crane vehicle of different, in particular higher, load classes. For this purpose, in an advantageous development of the invention, the 25 intermediate plate 13 is provided, as an adapter plate, having shaped elements which are complemented by correspondingly shaped elements on the underside of the additional counterweight elements 19, 19', with the result that the latter rest with a form fit on the 30 intermediate plate 13.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of the frame part 6, on which only are stacked only the counterweight elements 8-12 with the second lifting mechanism 7 35 thereon. No intermediate plate has been used in this case. Figure 5 shows this variant in side view. Both

-7- illustrations show, represented by dashed lines, the design of the fork-like frame element 6, which can be connected to the superstructure 2, for example, via bolt connections. The lowermost counterweight element 5 8 is expediently bolted to the frame element 6 from beneath, that is to say it is suspended below the frame element 6 and thus serves as a base for accommodating the rest of the counterweight elements 9-12 if these are all required. It can also be seen in the side view 10 of Figure 5 that fastening arrangements for fitting the second lifting mechanism 7 are provided at three different heights. The fastening arrangements on the uppermost level are designated 22,22'. Bolt connections may preferably be used for fastening -

15 purposes. Of course, other possible fastening arrangements, for example screw connections, are also conceivable. All that is required is for the connections to be capable of being released relatively easily in order for the second lifting mechanism 7 to 20 be moved to a different level if required.

A different arrangement is illustrated in the same way in Figures 6 and 7. Only three counterweight elements 8-10 are used here. In this case, the second lifting 25 mechanism 7 may thus be fitted on the lowermost level.

This considerably reduces the overall height, which in Figure 5 is designated 23, to 23' according to Figure 7. In practice, this can mean, for example, a reduction in the overall height from 3 m to merely 2.35 30 m. The latter would make it possible, with a maximum permitted loading height of 4 m, to use a conventional lorry with a load-floor height of 1. 65 m instead of a more expensive low loader which cannot be used for off road purposes having as it has, a load-floor height of 35 only 1 m.

Claims

-8- CLAIMS

1. Crane vehicle having a substructure, a super 5 structure, which is arranged rotatably on the substructure, a first lifting mechanism, which is secured to the superstructure, and a frame element, which is fitted or fittable on the superstructure and on which counterweight elements can be arranged, which 10 vehicle additionally includes a second lifting mechanism and on which is arranged above the counterweight elements a second lifting mechanism, with the frame element (6) being provided with a plurality of securing arrangements which are arranged at 15 different levels when the frame element (6) is in its use position and with it being possible for the second lifting mechanism (7) to be connected to the frame element (6) via easily detachable connections at different heights on said fastening arrangements (22, 20 22:).

2. Crane vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein at

least three levels are provided.

25

3. Crane vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the easily detachable connections are designed as bolt connections.

4. Crane vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 30 3, wherein an intermediate plate which projects laterally beyond the counterweight elements and comprises accommodating means possible for additional counterweight elements to be stacked laterally thereon, is arranged beneath the second lifting mechanism, on 35 the counterweight elements.

_9_

5. Crane vehicle according to Claim 4, wherein the intermediate plate (13) is designed as an adapter plate for counterweight elements of crane vehicles of other load classes to be stacked thereon.

6. A crane vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1-3, optionally as modified in Figure 4-7.