US3863773A

US3863773A - Rotary tower crane suitable for highway transportation

Info

Publication number: US3863773A
Application number: US377757A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmar Reich; Alfons Kohle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-10
Filing date: 1973-07-09
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04
Also published as: JPS5614596B2; FR2192058B1; DE2233828B2; DE2233828C3; FR2192058A1; DE2233828A1; JPS4943343A

Abstract

A rotary tower crane which can be converted from an operating mode in which the crane boom extends transversely beyond the vertical axis of the crane tower to a mode suitable for transportation of the crane, in which mode the boom is at least partially housed within the tower of the crane. The boom and upper portion of the tower include apparatus which enables the boom to move to a position substantially coaxial with the axis of the tower, from which position at least a portion of the boom is telescoped into the tower of the crane.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,863,773 Reich et al. Feb. 4, 1975 [5 ROTARY TOWER CRANE SUITABLE FOR 3,252,585 5/1966 Wieschel 212/144 HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS lnvefltorsi Elmar Reich, Biberach an der RiSS; 967,911 3/1963 Great Britain 212/46 B Alfons Kohle, Pflummernstrasse, 276,437 0/1962 Netherlands 212/144 both of Germany [73] Assignee: Hans Liebherr, Biberach an der Primary Exami'fe" stanley Tonbel'g Riss, Germany Assistant ExammerH. Grant Skaggs, Jr. I Attorney, Agent, or FirmEdward R. Weingram, Esq. [22] Flledz July 9, 1973- [21] Appl. No.: 377,757 [57] ABSTRACT A rotary tower crane which can be converted from an [30] Foreign Application Priority Data operating mode in which the crane boom extends transversely beyond the vertical axis of the crane July 10,1972 Germany 2233828 tower to a mode suitable for transportation of the crane, in which mode the boom is at least partially 212/46 housed within the tower of the crane. The boom and [58] Fie'ld B 64 33 upper portion of the tower include apparatus which 5 enables the boom to move to a position substantially coaxial with the axis of the tower, from which position [56] References Cited at least a portion of the boom is telescoped into the UNITED STATES PATENTS tower of the 3,189,189 6/1965 Waetun et al 212/46 B 7 Clalms, 2 Drawmg Flglres PATENTEDFEB 4mm 3.863.773

SHEET 1 UF 2 Fig.1

PATENT FEMIQB 3,863,773

' SHEET 2 [IF 2 ROTARY TOWER CRANE SUITABLE FOR IIIGIIWAY- TRANSPORTATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to hoisting apparatus and, more particularly, rotary tower cranes which can be collapsed to facilitate transportation of the crane from one location to another.

2. Description of the Prior Art Rotary tower cranes have become increasingly popular in the construction field and they have been developed in several different embodiments for many varied uses. These cranes consist, essentially, of a vertical tower and a boom, pivoted to the tower. Some of the booms, often referred to as needle-type booms, can be adjusted with respect to the horizontal inclination of the boom, while other booms, often referred to as crabtype booms, tend to have a fixed horizontal attitude with a crab moving along the length of the boom. The tower of the crane and/or the boom is often composed of several detachable sections, which can be added or taken away in order to adjust the length of either the tower or the boom.

It is desirable to be able to easily move these rotary tower cranes from one site of use to another, without completely disassembling the crane into its basic component parts and then reassembling it at the new site. Many different cranes have been developed to facilitate the transportation of the crane. Most of the prior art attempts have provided a rotary tower crane which is converted from an operating mode of use to a transportation mode of use by, in some manner, placing the tower of the crane in a horizontal position with the crane bo'om swung parallel to the tower, lying either above, below, or alongside the tower. Several sections of the tower are often formed so that they can be telescoped in order to shorten the length of the tower. Also, where the boom is composed of two or more sections, very often the separate sections of the boom are hinged so that they can be folded to be placed in a more compact arrangement. In some circumstances, both the tower and the boom have hinged sections and both the tower and the boom are folded upon each other and then laid parallel to each other alongside or in vertical relationship. However, in all of the prior art, the tower crane, when placed in the compact or transportation mode, still has a substantially larger cross-sectional and/or length dimensions than does the crane when assembled in the operating mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the problems set forth in the prior art, the present invention provides a rotary tower crane which can be converted from an operating mode in which the boom extends transversely boyond the vertical axis of the crane tower to a transportation mode in which the boom of the crane is at least partially housed within the crane tower. The boom and the upper portion of the crane tower include apparatus which enables the boom to move to a position substantially coaxial with the axis of the tower and then telescope at least partially into the tower.

Accordingly, in view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane which can be easily adapted for highway transportation and which takes up a minimum of space when arranged in a mode for transportation.

Another object of the present inventions is to provide a rotary tower crane, which can be quickly and easily converted from an operating mode to a transportation mode.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane which is relatively selfcontained and requires a minimum of external equipment to convert the apparatus from the operating mode to the transportation mode.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane in which the hoisting apparatus employed in the operating mode of the crane is used in effecting the conversion of the crane between the operating mode and the transportation mode.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane which does not require disassembly of the boom from the tower during conversion between the operating mode and the transportation mode of the apparatus.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane which does not require extensive specialized equipment for converting between the operating mode and the transportation mode of the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane which allows the crane boom to be telescoped into the crane tower to provide an assembly having minimum dimensions for purposes of transportation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane which allows the crane boom to be telescoped into the crane tower withoutdisassembly of the boom from the tower during conversion from one mode of operation to the other.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane which can use the operating cab of the crane as a guide for the crane boom during conversion of the crane from the operating mode to the transportation mode of the crane.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane which can be converted between the operating mode and the transportation mode with a minimum of operating personnel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane which can be converted between operating and transportation modes and provides a minimum corss-sectional area when arranged in the transportation mode. v

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane which is convertible between operating and transportation modes and has a minimum length when in the transportation mode.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane, convertible between an operating mode and a transportation mode, which is relatively rugged and durable, and relatively inexpensive to fabricate.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane covertible between an operating mode and a transportation mode, in which the sections of both the boom and the tower can be shortcned by telescoping and then the telescoped sections of the boom drawn within the telescoped sections of the tower, to provide minimum length and width dimensions of the apparatus for pusposes of transporting the apparatus from one site of use to another.

Additionally, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane convertible between operating and transportation modes, which provides apparatus to guide the boom into the tower during the telescoping portion of the conversion from the operating mode of the crane to the transportation mode of the crane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane convertible between an operating mode and a transportation mode, which includes apparatus for moving an operating cab within the tower of the crane to guide in telescoping the boom of the crane into the tower during conversion from the operating mode of the crane to the transportation mode of the crane.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of several embodiments of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts a portion of a rotary tower crane built in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, showing the top portion of the crane tower and the adjacent portion of the boom, with the boom positioned in the operating mode of the crane.

FIG. 2 shows a similar portion of another embodiment of a rotary tower crane built in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in which the boom is moved to the vertical position prior to being telescoped into the tower of the crane to convert the crane to the transportation mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMENTS:

While the device will be described below in connection with rotarytype cranes, having normally horizontal crabtype operating booms, it should be pointed out that the invention described herein can also be applied to rotary tower cranes having needle-type booms.

Further, for purposes of simplicity, the same elements shown in different figures of the drawings, will be identified with the same numerical designation.

Referring to FIG. 1, a rotary tower crane is shown, having a boom, generally indicated at l, substantially horizontally mounted on top of a vertical tower, generally indicated at 2. A crab, generally indicated at 4, including a hoist block 4', is drawn by means of a tackle line 5 along a set of rails 3 mounted on the bottom portion of the horizontal boom. The boom 1 is braced by means of a line 6 connected at one end to an anchoring point 6 (see FIG. 2) on the boom and connected at its other end to an upper corner of a triangular trestle member or boom articulating means 7. The second upper end of the triangular trestle member 7 is an anchoring point for a line 8, which exerts a counterclockwise motion on the trestle to balance the pull from line 6. The third corner of the trestle is connected to the triangular bracing 2' at the head of the tower so that the entire trestle 7 and, additionally, the entire boom 1 can revolve about an axis 9 which is perpendicular to the ve t ca axisgflhetowerl- A guide truck 10 is connected to the head of vertical tower 2 by means of a swing arm 12 which pivots with respect to the tower at pivot connection 13, the axis of which connection is parallel to the pivoting axis 9 of the connection between the triangular trestle, 7 boom 1 and the tower support brace 2. A plurality of wheels or rollers 11 are mounted in the guide truck 10 to contact the track 3, to guide movement of the boom with relation to the vertical tower to be described below.

In order to convert the rotary tower crane from the operating mode with the boom extending transversely beyond the longitudinal axis of the vertical tower, as shown in FIG. 1, to the transportation mode, in which the boom will be telescoped within the vertical tower, it is necessary to swing the boom about pivot point 9 until the boom is substantially coaxial with the rotary tower, as shown in FIG. 2. This is accomplished by tensioning line 8, which will exert a counterclockwise force on the triangular trestle, causing the trestle and, therefore, line 6 to rotate counterclockwise moving the boom in a counterclockwise direction. Simultaneously, the swing arm 12 connected to the guide truck 10 will pivot about axis 13 to be in a position to guide the boom into the tower during the telescoping operation.

Once in the guiding position, the guide truck 10 or the swing arm 12 is locked. In order to allow for the telescoping of the boom, the connection at the axis of rotation 9 between the boom and the triangular bracing 2 at the head of the tower is loosened, the boom being supported by line 5, as described below.

When the boom 1 has been raised to the vertical position, the rollers 14 located at the bottom or end of the boom will be engaged with the tackle line 5 of the crab 4. The tackle line 5 is held in operative position by means of a guide pulley 5' so that once the boom is in the vertical position, it can be telescoped into the tower by merely feeding tackle line 5 over the tackle pulley 5 to increase the length ofthe tackle line 5. Line 5 can be connected to the boom in any convenient, conventional manner. For purposes of the present invention, it is only necessary that one point of line 5 be held fixed with relation to the boom so that the line can be lengthened or taken up from the end descending vertically beyond pulley 5. Therefore, since the crab 4 is drawn by means ofline 5, a portion ofline 5 can be held fixed with relation to the boom by locking crab 4 with respect to the boom and locking hoisting block 4' to the crab 4 or connecting it to the boom. Of course, line 5 could be connected directly to boom 1 anywhere along the boom by direct fastening similar to that shown for line 6 to point 6 in FIG. 2. When the boom has been fully telescoped into the tower to the desired length, then the tower can be lowered from the vertical position to the horizontal position (by means not shown in the drawing) and the entire crane is in the transportation mode, ready for highway transportation.

As shown in FIG. 2, many cranes have an operators cab 15 mounted within the tower which can be moved in the tower to compensate for changes of height in the tower. As shown in FIG. 2, the cab 15 is detachably connected by means of supporting structure 16 to the tower support brace assembly 2 to maintain the tower cab in a position underneath the boom during operation. When the rotary tower crane has this type of a cab, the entire cab can be moved down into the tower during the telescoping operation of the boom by merely detaching the supporting structure 16 from the tower supporting brace structure 2 and connecting it instead to the structure of the boom 1 as, for example, at points 17 where the supporting structure 15 passes the rear framework of the boom 1. The supporting structure 16 can be detachably connected to the tower support brace assembly 2' as well as to the framework of the boom at points 17 by any convenient meams well known in the state of the fastening art. The cab will then ride down into the tower with the boom. Further, if guide apparatus for raising and lowering the cab is provided for the cab either inside the tower or on the cab (not shown), it is possible to use the guide apparatus for the cab as a guide in telescoping the boom into the tower. This is accomplished by merely connecting the cab to the boomand then using the cab as a lead for the boom into the tower. This guide function for the cab could be in addition to or could replace the guide function of the'guide truck coacting with boom rails Erecting the rotary tower crane from the transportation mode to the operating mode occurs in the reverse sequence described for the conversion from the operating mode into the transportation mode.

There are other embodiments of the invention which have not been shown in the drawings for purposes of brevity, since they can readily be explained without recourse to additional figures. For example, as mentioned previously, the guide truck 10 and swing arm 12 can be eliminated in embodiments in which the operators cab 15 is used as a guide for drawing the boom into the rotary tower.

While the drawings do not show the apparatus for ro tating the boom about the longitudinal axis of the tower, several different apparatuses for accomplishing this purpose could be compatibly used with the apparatus shown for pivoting the boom from the horizontal position to the vertical position for telescoping into the tower. So, for example, an axially rotatable section for the tower could be provided, which would work either in conjunction with or allow axial rotation independently of the base section of the tower used for pivoting the entire tower from the vertical to the horizontal position. Additionally, the head of the tower or any other intermediate section of the tower could include a section capable of providing the axial rotation of the tower necessary for rotating the boom about the tower in the operating mode.

Further, both the tower and the boom can be formed from several sections, which sections can either be detachable or telescopable. lf detachable, then intermediate sections of the boom and/or tower can be removed for purposes of shipping or changing the size of the crane in the operating mode. If these sections are telescopable, then either the boom and/or the tower can be telescoped separately prior to transportation and then, in turn, the telescoped boom and/or tower can be placed in the telescope relationship with each other to provide for a minimum of space when arranged in the transportation mode. For a completely telescoped assembly, the largest boom section would have to be smaller than the smallest telescoping tower section so that the entire boom could lie within the telescoped sections of the tower when the entire assembly is in the fully telescoped position. Further, a compound configuration for the tower would also be compatible with the teachings of the present invention, so that, for example, the tower could be composed of a lower section of substantially greater cross section and a second upper portion having sections of substantially smaller cross sections including a rotary head for the tower, all of which sections could then be telescoped within the larger sections and then the boom telescoped down with the telescoped tower.

lt will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tower crane comprising:

a tower having a lengthwise axis adapted to stand vertically during hoisting operations of said crane;

a boom for hoisting, having a lengthwise axis adapted to extend transversely from the lengthwise axis of said tower during hoisting operations of said crane;

means supporting said boom in said transverse position during hoisting operation of said crane;

means to move/said lengthwise axis of said boom to a position substantially coaxial with said lengthwise axis of said tower, comprising:

boom actuating means extending transverse from the lengthwise axis of said boom;

means pivotally connecting said boom actuating means to said tower;

means connecting said boom actuating means to 4 said boom; and

means to pivot said boom actuating means about said tower to raise said boom and thereby bring said lengthwise axis of said boom into alignment with said lengthwise axis of said tower; means to move said boom at least partially into said tower in coaxial telescoped relationship to said tower, comprising: line means operatively associated with said boom for hoisting operation of said crane;

guide means connected to said tower and adapted to hold said line means in contact with a guide means on said boom;

guide means on said boom vertically spaced when said boom isin its horizontal positions, said guide means adapted to engage said line means when said-boom is disposed with its lengthwise axis aligned with said lengthwise axis of said tower; and

said tower guide means and said boom guide means relatively disposed to allow said boom to move into and out of said tower upon lengthening and shortening of said line means; and

means to guide movement of said boom when moving into and out of telescope relationship with said tower.

2. The tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said telescoping relation with said tower comprise:

guide truck means adapted to coact with said boom to guide movement of said boom; and

means pivotally connecting said guide truck means to said tower to position said guide truck means to guide said boom for telescoping movement with relation to said tower.

3. The tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise:

an operator cab means disposed within said tower and movable along the lengthwise axis of said tower;

means rigidly connecting said operator cab means to said boom to enable said cab means to act as a guide for movement of said boom in telescoping relationship with said tower.

4. The tower crane according to claim 3 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise:

means pivotally connecting said guide truck means to said tower to position said guide truck means to guide said boom in telescopic movement with relation to said tower.

5. The tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said boom includes:

a crab means movable along the length of said boom;

and

said line means is included in the tackle for said crab means.

6. The tower crane according to claim 5 wherein:

said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise:

guide truck means adapted to coact with said boom to guide movement of said boom; means pivotally connecting said guide truck means to said tower to position said guide truck means to guide said boom in telescopic movement with relation to said tower; and further comprising:

rail means positioned on said boom means for movement of said crab means along said boom; and said rail means coacting with said guide truck means for movement of said boom means in telescoping relationship with said tower means. 7. The tower crane according to claim 6 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise:

an operator cab means disposed within said tower and movable along the lengthwise axis of said tower; and 7 means rigidly-connecting said operator cab means to said boom means to enable said cab means to act as a guide for movement of said boom in telescoping relationship with said tower.

Claims

1. A tower crane comprising: a tower having a lengthwise axis adapted to stand vertically during hoisting operations of said crane; a boom for hoisting, having a lengthwise axis adapted to extend transversely from the lengthwise axis of said tower during hoisting operations of said crane; means supporting said boom in said transverse position during hoisting operation of said crane; means to move said lengthwise axis of said boom to a position substantially coaxial with said lengthwise axis of said tower, comprising: boom actuating means extending transverse from the lengthwise axis of said boom; means pivotally connecting said boom actuating means to said tower; means connecting said boom actuating means to said boom; and means to pivot said boom actuating means about said tower to raise said boom and thereby bring said lengthwise axis of said boom into alignment with said lengthwise axis of said tower; means to move said boom at least partially into said tower in coaxial telescoped relationship to said tower, comprising: line means operatively associated with said boom for hoisting operation of said crane; guide means connected to said tower and adapted to hold said line means in contact with a guide means on said boom; guide means on said boom vertically spaced when said boom is in its horizontal positions, said guide means adapted to engage said line means when said boom is disposed with its lengthwise axis aligned with said lengthwise axis of said tower; and said tower guide means and said boom guide means relatively disposed to allow said boom to move into and out of said tower upon lengthening and shortening of said line means; and means to guide movement of said boom when moving into and out of telescope relationship with said tower.

2. The tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said telescoping relation with said tower comprise: guide truck means adapted to coact with said boom to guide movement of said boom; and means pivotally connecting said guide truck means to said tower to position said guide truck means to guide said boom for telescoping movement with relation to said tower.

3. The tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise: an operator cab means disposed within said tower and movable along the lengthwise axis of said tower; means rigidly connecting said operator cab means to said boom to enable said cab means to act as a guide for movement of said boom in telescoping relationship with said tower.

4. The tower crane according to claim 3 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise: guide truck means adapted to coact with said boom to guide movement of said boom; and means pivotally connecting said guide truck means to said tower to position said guide truck means to guide said boom in telescopic movement with relation to said tower.

5. The tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said boom includes: a crab means movable along the length of said boom; and said line means is included in the tackle for said crab means.

6. The tower crane according to claim 5 wherein: said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise: guide truck means adapted to coact with said boom to guide movement of said boom; means pivotally connecting said guide truck means to said tower to position said guide truck means to guide said boom in telescopic movement with relation to said tower; and further comprising: rail means positioned on said boom means for movement of said crab means along said boom; and said rail means coacting with said guide truck means for movement of said boom means in telescoping relationship with said tower means.

7. The tower crane according to claim 6 wherein said means to guide said movement of said boom into and out of said tower comprise: an operator cab means disposed within said tower and movable along the lengthwise axis of said tower; and means rigidly connecting said operator cab means to said boom means to enable said cab means to act as a guide for movement of said boom in telescoping relationship with said tower.