Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
  • B66C23/62—Constructional features or details
  • B66C23/72—Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples
  • B66C23/74—Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples separate from jib
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
  • B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
  • B66C23/36—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
  • B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
  • B66C23/62—Constructional features or details
  • B66C23/72—Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples

Definitions

• the present application relates to lift cranes, and particularly to mobile lift cranes having attachments to increase the lift capacity of the crane.
• Enhancing the lift capacities of mobile lift cranes has been the subject of many improvements in the art of lift cranes over the years. Even with these improvements, there is still a need for further improvements, especially where the particular load to be lifted is very heavy, and other constraints associated with the load come into play, such as the need for the crane to be able to move over the ground while lifting the load.
• the invention is a mobile lift crane comprising a central crane unit having a carbody, moveable ground engaging members and a rotating bed mounted to the ground engaging members with a rotatable connection such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members; a boom unit having a support member, at least one moveable ground engaging member, and a boom pivotally mounted on the support member; a counterweight unit having counterweight on a support member; and rigging connecting the boom and counterweight unit such that a load lifted by the boom can be counterbalanced by the counterweight.
• the boom unit and counterweight unit are connected to the central crane unit by structural members that carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit in lateral alignment with each other, but allow relative vertical movement between the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit.
• a main mast is pivotally mounted on the combination of the central crane unit, the boom unit and the structural member between the central crane unit and the boom unit.
• the invention is a mobile lift crane comprising a counterweight unit having a support member, counterweight, and at least two moveable ground engaging members, the support member being mounted to the ground engaging members with a rotatable connection such that the support member can swing with respect to the ground engaging members about a swing axis; a boom unit having a support member, at least two moveable ground engaging members, a boom pivotally mounted on the support member, and a main mast pivotally mounted on the support member; a structural member between the boom unit and the counterweight unit that can carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit and the counterweight unit in lateral alignment with each other, but allow relative vertical movement between the boom unit and the counterweight unit; and rigging connecting the boom, mast and counterweight unit such that a load lifted by the boom can be counterbalanced by the counterweight.
• the ground engaging members of the boom unit can be rotated relative to the boom unit support member such that the boom unit i) can travel in an arc around the swing axis and ii
• the crane with a short boom and short radii will be able to lift approximately 2,000 metric ton.
• the capacity is approximately 800 metric ton. Even with the ability to lift these large loads, the crane is still mobile.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a mobile lift crane with lift enhancing attachments.
• Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the mobile lift crane of Figure 1 with some elements removed for sake of clarity.
• Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mobile lift crane of Figure 1 with some elements removed for sake of clarity.
• Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of a mobile lift crane of the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a top plan view of the crane of Figure 4 with some elements removed for sake of clarity.
• Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of a mobile lift crane of the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a top plan view of the crane of Figure 6 with some elements removed for sake of clarity.
• the mobile lift crane 10 is made from three main units: a central crane unit 20, a boom unit 40 and a counterweight unit 60.
• the boom unit 40 and counterweight unit 60 are connected to the central crane unit 20 by structural members 82 and 84.
• the boom unit 40 and its structural member 82 are similar to a lift enhancing attachment that has been sold under the trademark "X-Tender” by Manitowoc Cranes of Manitowoc, Wisconsin,
• the counterweight unit 60 and its structural member 84 are similar to another lift enhancing attachment that has been sold under the trademark "MAX-ER” by Manitowoc Cranes.
• the central crane unit 20 includes a carbody 22, a rotating bed 23 and moveable ground engaging members in the form of crawlers 24.
• the rotating bed 23 is mounted to the carbody 22 with a rotatable connection, which may be rollers running on a roller path or a slewing ring, such that the rotating bed 23 can swing about a vertical axis with respect to the ground engaging members 24.
• the ground engaging members on the central crane unit comprise at least two crawlers.
• the central crane unit further includes a secondary mast 26 pivotally connected to the rotating bed 23. This mast is used primarily during set up to raise the main mast.
• the central crane unit 20 also includes other elements commonly found on a mobile lift crane, such as a live mast 28, back stops 30 and an operator's cab 32.
• the boom unit 40 includes a support member 42 and at least one moveable ground engaging member.
• the ground engaging member on the boom unit will typically comprise at least two crawlers.
• the boom unit has four moveable ground engaging members in the form of crawlers 44, in two sets of two crawlers each.
• crawlers or in this case, each set of crawlers
• Each of crawlers (or in this case, each set of crawlers) on the boom unit can be rotated about a vertical axis so that the boom unit can travel in both i) an arc around the axis of the rotatable swing connection of the central crane unit 20 (as shown in Figures 2 and 3) and ii) a lateral direction corresponding to a linear direction of travel of the central crane unit (as shown in Figure 1).
• the boom unit also includes a boom 46 pivotally mounted on the support member 42, and a main mast 48 pivotally mounted on the support member 42.
• the boom 46 may comprises a main boom and a luffing jib 50 pivotally mounted to the top of the main boom.
• struts 51 and 53 are also used.
• the boom may be made from two independent lattice structures that are joined together at both their tops and bottoms by the pivotal support mechanism of the support member 42 and the luffing jib support on the top of the main boom.
• the counterweight unit 60 includes a counterweight (which may be in the form of two stacks 62 and 64 of individual counterweight members as shown) on a support member 66.
• the counterweight unit 60 further includes moveable ground engaging members in the form of multiple wheels 68.
• a second counterweight unit 61 designed for free-hanging use, is also included.
• the ground engaging members on the counterweight unit can be rotated about a vertical axis so that the counterweight unit can travel in both i) an arc around the axis of the rotatable swing connection of the central crane unit and ii) a lateral direction corresponding to a linear direction of travel of the central crane unit.
• the counterweight unit 61 may include a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) connected between the support member and the back hitch straps 54 that can be retracted to change the bearing of the counterweight from the ground to the back hitch straps as a load is lifted and counterweight is needed.
• a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) connected between the support member and the back hitch straps 54 that can be retracted to change the bearing of the counterweight from the ground to the back hitch straps as a load is lifted and counterweight is needed.
• the crane 10 also includes rigging connecting the boom 46, main mast
• the rigging includes boom hoist rigging 52 between the main mast 48 and the boom 46, allowing the boom angle with respect to the ground to be changed.
• the rigging also includes the back hitch straps 54.
• the back hitch straps in the embodiment shown are ultimately tied to the main mast 48, but may also be connected through the top of the secondary mast 26.
• Another back hitch strap 58 is tied to the back of the central crane unit 20. This strap is also tied to the live mast 28 and is used to erect the secondary mast 26.
• Rigging 59 ( Figure 1) is used to change the angle between struts 51 and 53, and thus the angle of luffing jib 50 compared to the main boom.
• the structural members 82 and 84 carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit 40, the rotating bed 23 and the counterweight unit 60 in lateral alignment with each other. However, these members are pinned so as to allow relative vertical movement between the boom unit 40, the rotating bed 23 and the counterweight unit 60.
• the structural member 82 may support one or more drums 86, 87 and 88 containing a load hoist line, luffing jib line 59 and boom hoist line, as well as engine module 90.
• FIGs 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of a crane 110 of the present invention.
• crane 110 includes three main units: a central crane unit 120, a boom unit 140 and a counterweight unit 160.
• the boom unit 140 and counterweight unit 160 are connected to the central crane unit 120 by structural members 182 and 184.
• Rigging 159 is used to change the angle between struts 151 and 153, and thus the angle of the luffing jib 150.
• Load hoist line and rigging drums, as well as an engine module, are mounted on the structural member 182.
• the mast back stop 186 shown in Figure 4 can also be used on crane 10.
• the primary difference in the crane 110 compared to crane 10 is that the moveable ground engaging members on the counterweight unit 160 comprise at least two crawlers 168.
• Figure 5 shows the crawlers 168 and the crawlers on the boom unit in the orientation for swinging about the central crane unit in phantom lines.
• Figures 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of a crane 210.
• This crane is different than cranes 10 and 110 in that it has only two main units: a counterweight unit 260 and a boom unit 240.
• the counterweight unit is designed to have a central swing axis and the boom unit is configured so that it can either move in an arc about that swing axis, or travel in line with the crawlers on the counterweight unit.
• the counterweight unit 260 includes a support member 266, counterweight 262 and at least two moveable ground engaging members in the form of two crawlers 268.
• the support member 266 is mounted to the ground engaging members with a rotatable connection such that the support member 266 can swing with respect to the ground engaging members about a swing axis.
• the boom unit 240 includes a support member 242, at least two moveable ground engaging members, in this case four crawlers 244, a boom 246 pivotally mounted on the support member 242, and a main mast 248 pivotally mounted on the support member.
• a structural member 282 extends between the boom unit and the counterweight unit, and can carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit and the counterweight unit in lateral alignment with each other, but allows relative vertical movement between the boom unit and the counterweight unit.
• the crane 210 also includes rigging connecting the boom, mast and counterweight unit such that a load lifted by the boom can be counterbalanced by the counterweight.
• the ground engaging members 244 of the boom unit can be rotated relative to the boom unit support member such that the boom unit i) can travel in an arc around the swing axis of the counterweight unit (as shown in phantom lines in Figure 7) and ii) travel in direction in line with the structural member 282.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Jib Cranes (AREA)

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• 2007
  • 2007-05-11 KR KR1020087026035A patent/KR20090018034A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2007-05-11 EP EP07762113.4A patent/EP2018341B1/de active Active
  • 2007-05-11 RU RU2008149047/11A patent/RU2445251C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-05-11 BR BRPI0711454-0A patent/BRPI0711454A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-05-11 CN CN2007800171855A patent/CN101460386B/zh active Active
  • 2007-05-11 MX MX2008014122A patent/MX2008014122A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2007-05-11 WO PCT/US2007/068738 patent/WO2007134211A2/en active Application Filing

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