GB1586371A - Self-erecting tower crane - Google Patents

Description

(54) SELF-ERÈCTING TOWER CRANE (71) We, EPITOGEPGYARTO VALLALAT, of 1117 Budapest, Galvani ut 44* Hungary, a body corporate organized under the laws of Hungary, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention concerns a self-erecting tower crane that can be moved to the site of erection in the form ob a single, knocked- down transport unit of dimensions not exceeding the standard road space or loading gauge.

For the construction of buildings, particularly of high-rise buildings, rotary tower cranes are required the height of which is greater than the buildings to be erected.

When such tower cranes are used to work only in one directoion along a relatively long distance, it is generally sufficient to use cranes that are track-bound and can move on a track on ground level along the building, and are fitted with a revolving jib.

If a wide working platform perpendicular to the track has to be serviced by a trackbound crane, tower cranes must be used in which the hook of the crane, and therefore the payload, can be moved by an overhead trolley that can be operated along a jib with a long overhang beam and the crane can be transported to the site of erection. From the point of view of economical operation in many cases it might be practicable to use tower cranes for the erection of buildings which have far longer overhang beams i.e. far longer jibs than the customary tower cranes. Such cranes are preferred to ones in which a frequent transfer and displacement is necessary 'during the erection of buildings.

The technical and economical requirements regarding the use of tower cranes with jibs of particularly long overhang beams create, however, numerous problems. The two most important of these are the erection and dismantling of the cranes on the one hand and their transportation to the site, on the other hand.

The latest developments of known tower cranes are embodied in the so-called "selferecting" constructions. Such tower cranes are transportable in a knocked down state and are assemblable on site by their own mechanical drive units and by hoists into an operative state.

Normally the so-called self-erection process is carried out in such way that the tower crane fitted with a blase frame is conveyed by a tractor to the building site, whereafter the column of the crane is swivelled into vertical position with the aid of its own drive unit. In the case of telescopic columns, the upper parts of the telescopic column are pulled out from the lowest part of the column and the jib, which was collapsed for transportation, is erected into a working position with the aid of swivelling and lifting actions of the crane hoist. To ensure stability of the crane, counterweights are generally used to balance the payload and the total weight of the lib.

The columns and jibs of the known tower cranes are transported to the site of erection in a horizontal position during which great difficulties are encountered arising from the fact that for jibs with long overhanging beams the dimensions of the collapsed jib members and the column exceed the allowable height and/or width for road transport.

Attempts have already been made to form a transport unit by placing the members of the jib side-by-side instead folding them up on top of one another. Howeverf transport units constructed in this way for road haulage are only suitable for tower cranes with jibs having relatively short overhangbeams.

There are known tower cranes in which the members of the jib are conveyed in the form of several road transport units to the site of erection where they are assembled by separate operations. Thus the advantages of "self-erection" are lost.

In the case of jib-lengths of approximately 20 m successful attempts have been made for constructing a suitable transport unit by dividing the jib into two halves and by placing the two jib-halves side-by-side together. The height of such a transport unit does not exceed the height of the standard road loading gauge; also, from the point of view of the length of the transport unit, jib members of 10 m length proved to be suitable for road haulage.

For tower cranes with particularly long jibs i.e. with a length of 35 to 40 m, it was necessary to use jibs consisting of more than two members and to move them in several discrete transport units to the site of erection.

In the known designs for jibs divided into two members it is necessary to pivot the tip of the jib to lie against the other jib member by a separate operation when the column of the crane is in a standing position. In another design it is necessary first to put the members, laid side-by-side and transported in that way, on top of one another and thereafter pivot them into a common track-line.

It is a drawback of known designs of very long jibs consisting of more than two members that the erection and displacement of such cranes becomes a very time-consuming operation.

An aim of this invention is to provide a self-erecting tower crane, the erection and dismantling of which can be carried out relatively quickly and without the aid of auxiliary equipment which can be transported as a single transport unit not exceeding in length or in a vertical sense the road loading gauge, even for the longest jib.

A further aim of the invention is to develop the column and the jib of the crane in such a way that in the collapsed state of the jib its length and height are adapted to the dimensions of the column and it is possible to transport the adjacently lying collapsed members of the jib and to arrange the column on top of the collapsed jib members.

The' invention is based on the discovery that to achieve the aims, the members of the jib have to be of trangular shape in crosssection, and interconnected by linkages en 'abling the jib members to occupy a compact nested position for road transport of the crane.

According to the invention there is provided a self-erecting tower crane which is collapsible so as to be a compact unit within allowable dimensions for road haulage between sites of erection, the crane comprising a jib which is constructed of triangular cross-section with an apex upwardly pointing and one side of the triangle horizontal and lowermost in the erected condition of the crane and which supports an overhead crab movable along the jib both in a horizontal and in an inclined position of the jib, a support column of triangular or rectangular cross-section and having relatively telescopic parts, a base frame which supports the column by way of a bogie interposed between the column and the base frame, drive means for lifting and lowering the load suspended from the crab, for moving the overhead crab along the jib and for moving the jib, the bogie of the crane being fitted with a counterweight for balancing the load on the jib, a truck fitted with wheels for road haulage of the crane, the base frame being supported on the truck during transport of the crane, and a trailer for supporting the collapsed column and jib, wherein the jib is divided along its length into three members each of triangular cross-section, namely a shoulder member adjacent the column, an intermediate member and a tip member remote from the column, there being a pivot linkage with a vertical pivot axis, when the jib is horizontal, between the intermediate member and the tip member for permitting relative rotary movement between the tip member and the intermediate member about said pivot axis, while between the shoulder member and the intermediate member there is a universal linkage permitting relative rotary movement in three dimensions between the intermediate member and the shoulder member and the lower telescopic part of the column being connected to the bogie of the crane by a linkage having a horizontal pivot axis permitting rotary movement of the lower column part relative to the bogie, the upper telescopic part of the column being connected to the shoulder member of the jib by a linkage permitting relative rotary movement about a horizontal axis, and wherein by virtue of the aforementioned linkages the crane is collapsible to its transportable state in such a way that the intermediate member and the tip member are laid side by side with their respective horizontal sides lowermost while the shoulder member with its horizontal side uppermost is disposed in a triangular prism-shaped recess between the intermediate member and the trip member, the column being telescoped and arranged on top of the jib members.

According to a preferred feature of the invention a jib swing cable is fastened to the jib at & a spot adjacent the outer end of the shoulder member remote from the column, and the tip member may be shorter than the shoulder member or the intermediate member.

The universal linkage may comprise four links, ,pivotally connected in series between the shoulder member and the intermediate member to form a series of five pivot points the pivot axes of which taken in series are perpendicular one with respect to the next.

The described tower crane according to embodiments of the invention has several advantages. The most important is that it ensures an easier and quicker assembly of the crane than all other known crane coristructions. To achieve this only the fitting and removal of a few fasteners e.g: bolts is necessary. No extra or additional lifting operations are required to known-down the jib. Despite its special design, the jib consisting of three jib members ensures a long overhang-beam that meets all requirements and the three jib members are so arranged that when they are folded down to a side-byside position for transportation, they have a height which is equal to the height of the cross-section of one single jib member.It follows from this that the dimensions of the transport unit, even when the column of the crane is placed on the top of it, do not exceed the dimensions of the road loading gauge.

Practical experience has shown that the tower crane according to the invention is reliable in operation and its maintenance and the elimination of possible faults are simple. In its transportable state the whole tower crane forms one single transport unit that can be hauled on road to the site of erection.

The linkage disposed between the tip member and the central member-of the jib permits an easy swivelling of the members into a position wherein they lie side-by-side and the universal linkage with its five degrees of freedom makes it possible to insert the shoulder member into the trough-shaped free space formed between the aforementioned two other members, of the jib.

An important feature of the universal linkage system is its self-locking (self-braking) effect thus eliminating the intervention of personnel both at erection and dismantling.

Furthermore, it has proved advantageous that the tip of the jib thanks to the special design and by a careful selection of the position of the linkages makes no progressive movement relative to the ground, either in erection or in dismantling; it is only swivelled. Another important advantage is that the tensioning and tackle cables can be wound up and, down at ground level both during erection and dismantling of, the crane, thus avoiding the need for the erect- ing personnel to work at high level.

The invention is described purely by way of example, with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of the erected tower crane, Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of a transport unit showing the individual parts of the crane in the knocked-down state, Figures 3a to 3k illustrate. the sequence of operational steps of dismantling the crane; Figure 4 is a side view of the three-dimen sional universal linkage system, Figure 5 is a plan view, of the three dimensional universal linkage system, Figure 6 is a line (principle) diagram of the support of the rod-chain forming a three-dimensional' (spatial) linkage system inside view, and Figure 7 shows the support of the rodchain in cross-section.

Figure 1 is a side view of the tower crane according to the invention in which a jib 1 in its horizontal position is indicated by full links whereas its inclined position is illustrated by broken lines. It is an important feature of the tower crane according to the invention that an overhead trolley (or crab) 29 is movable on the jib when the latter is inclined or horizontal.

The jib 1 has a triangular cross-section having (when the jib is horizontal, Figure 1) an upwardly pointing apex and .one side which is horizontal and lowermost. As shown in Figure 2, for the collapsed jib, a horizontal lattice extends between edges 10, 12, 13 of respective jib members 1A, 1B, 1C and inclined lattices extend between these edges 10, 12 and 14 and associated edges 11, 13 and 15, to impart to the jib 1 the triangular cross-section mentioned.

The jib 1 consists of three members; 9 shoulder member 1.A, a central (or intermediate) member 1B, and a tip member lC.

The tip member 1C is expediently shorter than the central member 1B and the shoulder member lA. A linkage 2 between the central member 1B and the tip member 1C enables pivotable movement about a vertical axis taken between the members 1B and 1C.

A three-dimensional or universal linkage system 3 is interposed between the shoulder member 1A and the central member 1B and permits the members 1A and 1B to pivot to any relative angular position 'in three dimensions. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, this linkage system 3 has five degrees of freedom. This is necessary to enable during dismantling of the crane the insertion of the shoulder member 1A between the central member. 1B and tip member 1C which members are relatively plyotable in' ,a plane, as illustrated in Figure 2.By inertion of the shoulder member 1A into the triangular cross-section and downwardly converging space dr clearance between the central member 1B and tip member 1C, the jib 1 forms a transport unit the height of which does not exceed the height of the cross-section of one single jib member, as shown in Figure 2.

The tower crane according to the invention has a column 4 consisting of telescopic- ally displaceable parts, viz. a lower part 4A and an upper part 4B. The column 4 is mounted on a bogie 5 arranged on a base frame 30 of the crane and can be swiveled relative to the bogie 5 in a vertical plane about a joint or linkage6. The bogie 5 carries a counterweight for balancing the load on the jib.

Similarly, a joint or linkage 7 between the jib 1 and the column 4 permits a swivèl- ling movement about a horizontal axis. A swivelling motion is carried out around linkage 7 when the jib 1 is lifted from its transport position with the aid of a jib swing guide cable 9, and vice versa, i.e.

when the jib 1 is brought into its transport position, and when the angle of the swing of the jib 1 is changed during the operation of the crane. The cable 9 is connected to the jib at the outer end of the member 1A.

The crane is equipped with drive means (not shown) for moving the load suspended from the crab 29, for moving the crab 29 along the jib and for moving the jib by means of the cable 9.

As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, the column 4 can be so arranged that it is laid on the top of the jib members 1A, 1B and 1C (which have been collapsed for transportation purposes) and can be connected for the duration of transport to the jib members by means 16 adapted for temporary locking. The transport unit assembled in this way is placed on an undercarriage 35 (Figure 3) and a supporting trailer 8 and can be hauled by road at any time to the place of destination, i.e. to the site of erection of the crane.

Figures 3a to 3k illustrate the sequence of operational steps required in the dismantling of the crane from its working position or operative state Figure 3a shows the crane in its operative state with a horizontal jib.

In the first step of dismantling the crane, the jib 1 is lowered by the jib-swing guide cable 9 as shown in Figure 3b. In the posi- tion illustrated in Figure 3c the tip 31 of the jib 1 is already in contact with the ground surface 32; it is good practice to put some kind of a shimmying plate 33 between the ground surface 32 and the tip 31 of the jib.

In the next step of dismantling the crane shown in Figure 3d, the jib 1 is being collapsed or folded by way of a relative' pivoting movement of the three-dimensional linkage system 3, between the shoulder member 1A and the central member 1B. Then the shoulder member 1A is made to ap proach the side òf the column 4 by pivotal movement at the linkage 7, as shown in Figure 3e; Figures 3d and 3e show that, after completing the described steps of dismantling, the column 4 is gradually telescopically retracted and is in the state illustrated. In Figure 3e the upper part 4b of column 4 is already almost completely retracted into the lower part 4a.

In the next phase of dismantling (Fig. 3f) the column is swivelled around linkage 6 towards the jib 1, whereafter the tip member 1P is pivoted around the vertical axis of linkage 2- to lie' alongside the central member 1 B, as shown in Figure 2. It is convenient to arrange å support 34 (Fig, 3g) at the end of the central member 113 close to the- linkage 2, the tip 31 of the jib 1 then, being lifted clear of the ground such face 32 to enable the tip member 1C to be swung more easily beside the central member 1B.After all three jib members 1A; 1B, 1C have been collapsed to lie side-by-side, the already retracted column 4 can be laid on top of the jib members, as shown in Figure 3h, and can be fastened to the jib 1 by means 16 adapted for temporary locking. The transport unit assembled in this way is thereafter lifted onto a supporting trailer 8, as shown in Figure 3i. Finally, the base frame 30 of the crane is lifted onto the mobile undercarriage 35 as shown in Figure 3j. The thus created single, compact transport unit can be hauled to the site of erection by a prime mover e.g. by a tractor 36 (Fig. 3r).

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate diagrammatically a kinematic layout of the three-dimensional (spatial) linkage system 3 which, due to its five degrees of freedom makes it possible to insert the shoulder member 1A of the jib 1 into the space between the central member 113 and the tip member 1C of jib 1, when dismantling the tower crane. The central axis 17 of the rod-chain, which forms the three-dimensional, spatial linkage system 3 falls essentially into the track line of the upper chord of the shoulder member 1A; thus the rod-chain itself becomes an integral part of the upper chord of the shoulder member 1A because it connects the last upper chord rod 1Au of the shoulder member 1A with the first upper chord rod 1Be ,of the central member IB.

The above-mentioned five degrees of freedom of the rod-chain forming the threedimensional linkage system 3 are derived from the design of the rod-chain according to which the mutually independent and interconnected four cham-members I, IÌ, III and IV movable relative to each other are located in the region which is between the upper-chord rods lAu and lBe.

Figures 4 and 5 show clearly that the first rod-chain member I which is next to the shoulder member ik can perform torsional movements, i.e. can be twisted around a bolt 20 relative to the upper chord-rod 1Au, the fourth member IV next to the central member 1B can be twisted around a bolt 24 relative to the upper chord-rod lBe. Similarly, members II and III can be twisted around a bolt 22 relative to one another.

In addition, member II in relation to member I and member IV in relation to member III can perform relative movements in a plane containing the central axis 17 of the rod-chain by twisting around transversal bolts 21 and 23 located in the direction of the respective axes 18 and 19 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jib. Thus, the members 1 to IV form four links separated by five pivot points, the pivot axes of which, taken in series, are plerpendicular one with respect to the next.

Since the above,described rod chain forming the three-dimensional linkage system 3 is in itself a kinematically unstable chain it is necessary, when the jib is assembled, to provide support for thé spatial linkage system 3between'the shoulder member 1A and the central member 1B.

For this support several known solutions can be considered. One expedient cónstruc- tional solution is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Here, the three-dimensional linkage system 3 is supported by a dish plate 28 fastened to the end of a member 27 rigidly connected to the shoulder member 1 A. Tn the region of their respective lower chords, the shoulder member 1A and the central member 1B are connected together only by the abutment faces 25. With regard to positioning and to absorption of possible additional shear forces, it may be practical to secure the mentioned abutment faces 25 relative to a guide mandrel 26, which expediently is conical.

The tower crane according to the preferred embodiment of the invention can expediently and economically be employed in the erection of buildings using a large panel system or by using another technology, e.g.

for the mounting of shutter-planking. The advantages are particularly apparent in cases where cranes with very long jibs are required. The illustrated tower crane can, even in case of jibs with the maximal length permitted in practice of up to 35A0 m be easily transported by road in the form of one single compact transport unit to any site of erection. The erection of the crane can be carried out without difficulties and without using external or auxiliary power sources or means, with the aid of the own drives of the crane and of the jib-swing cable of the jib following the sequence of the dismantling operations shown in Figure' 3 in the reverse sequence.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A self-erecting tower crane which is collapsible so as to be a compact unit within allowable dimensions for road haulage between sites of erection, the crane comprising a jib which is constructed of triangular cross-section with an apex upwardly pointing and one side of the triangle horizontal and lowermost in the erected condi- tion of the crane and which supports an overhead crab movable along the jib both in a horizontal and in an inclined position of the jib, a support column of triangular or rectangular cross-section and having relatively telescopic parts, a base frame which supports the column by way of a bogie in terposed between the column and the base frame, drive means for lifting and lowering the load suspended from the crab, for moving the overhead crab along the jib and for moving the jib, the bogie of the crane being fitted with a counterweight for balancing the load on the jib, a truck fittéd with wheels for road hauiage of the crane, the base frame being supported on the truck during transport of the crane, and a trailer for support ing the collapsed column and jib, wherein 'the jib is divided along its length into three members each of 'triangular cross-section, namely a shoulder member adjacent the column, an intermediate member and a tip member remote from the column, there be ing a pivot linkage with a vertical pivot axis, when the jib is horizontal, between the intermediate member and the tip member for permitting relative rotary movement between the tip member and the intermediate member about said pivot axis, while between the shoulder member and the intermediate member there is a universal linkage permitting relative rotary movement in three dimensions between the intermediate member and the shoulder member and the lower telescopic part of the column being connected to the bogie of the crane by a linkage having a horizontal pivot axis permitting rotary movement of the lower column part relative to the bogie, the upper telescopic part of the column being connected to the shoulder member of the jib by a linkage permitting relative rotary movement about a horizontal axis, and wherein by virtue of the aforementioned linkages the crane is collapsible to its transportable state in such a way that the intermediate member and the tip member are laid side by side with their respective horizontal sides lowermost while the shoulder member with its horizontal side uppermost is disposed in a triangular prism-shaped recess between the inter

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. III and IV movable relative to each other are located in the region which is between the upper-chord rods lAu and lBe. Figures 4 and 5 show clearly that the first rod-chain member I which is next to the shoulder member ik can perform torsional movements, i.e. can be twisted around a bolt 20 relative to the upper chord-rod 1Au, the fourth member IV next to the central member 1B can be twisted around a bolt 24 relative to the upper chord-rod lBe. Similarly, members II and III can be twisted around a bolt 22 relative to one another. In addition, member II in relation to member I and member IV in relation to member III can perform relative movements in a plane containing the central axis 17 of the rod-chain by twisting around transversal bolts 21 and 23 located in the direction of the respective axes 18 and 19 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jib. Thus, the members 1 to IV form four links separated by five pivot points, the pivot axes of which, taken in series, are plerpendicular one with respect to the next. Since the above,described rod chain forming the three-dimensional linkage system 3 is in itself a kinematically unstable chain it is necessary, when the jib is assembled, to provide support for thé spatial linkage system 3between'the shoulder member 1A and the central member 1B. For this support several known solutions can be considered. One expedient cónstruc- tional solution is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Here, the three-dimensional linkage system 3 is supported by a dish plate 28 fastened to the end of a member 27 rigidly connected to the shoulder member 1 A. Tn the region of their respective lower chords, the shoulder member 1A and the central member 1B are connected together only by the abutment faces 25. With regard to positioning and to absorption of possible additional shear forces, it may be practical to secure the mentioned abutment faces 25 relative to a guide mandrel 26, which expediently is conical. The tower crane according to the preferred embodiment of the invention can expediently and economically be employed in the erection of buildings using a large panel system or by using another technology, e.g. for the mounting of shutter-planking. The advantages are particularly apparent in cases where cranes with very long jibs are required. The illustrated tower crane can, even in case of jibs with the maximal length permitted in practice of up to 35A0 m be easily transported by road in the form of one single compact transport unit to any site of erection. The erection of the crane can be carried out without difficulties and without using external or auxiliary power sources or means, with the aid of the own drives of the crane and of the jib-swing cable of the jib following the sequence of the dismantling operations shown in Figure' 3 in the reverse sequence. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A self-erecting tower crane which is collapsible so as to be a compact unit within allowable dimensions for road haulage between sites of erection, the crane comprising a jib which is constructed of triangular cross-section with an apex upwardly pointing and one side of the triangle horizontal and lowermost in the erected condi- tion of the crane and which supports an overhead crab movable along the jib both in a horizontal and in an inclined position of the jib, a support column of triangular or rectangular cross-section and having relatively telescopic parts, a base frame which supports the column by way of a bogie in terposed between the column and the base frame, drive means for lifting and lowering the load suspended from the crab, for moving the overhead crab along the jib and for moving the jib, the bogie of the crane being fitted with a counterweight for balancing the load on the jib, a truck fittéd with wheels for road hauiage of the crane, the base frame being supported on the truck during transport of the crane, and a trailer for support ing the collapsed column and jib, wherein 'the jib is divided along its length into three members each of 'triangular cross-section, namely a shoulder member adjacent the column, an intermediate member and a tip member remote from the column, there be ing a pivot linkage with a vertical pivot axis, when the jib is horizontal, between the intermediate member and the tip member for permitting relative rotary movement between the tip member and the intermediate member about said pivot axis, while between the shoulder member and the intermediate member there is a universal linkage permitting relative rotary movement in three dimensions between the intermediate member and the shoulder member and the lower telescopic part of the column being connected to the bogie of the crane by a linkage having a horizontal pivot axis permitting rotary movement of the lower column part relative to the bogie, the upper telescopic part of the column being connected to the shoulder member of the jib by a linkage permitting relative rotary movement about a horizontal axis, and wherein by virtue of the aforementioned linkages the crane is collapsible to its transportable state in such a way that the intermediate member and the tip member are laid side by side with their respective horizontal sides lowermost while the shoulder member with its horizontal side uppermost is disposed in a triangular prism-shaped recess between the inter

mediate member and the trip member, the column being telescoped and arranged on top of the jib members.

2. A tower crane according to claim 1, wherein a jib swing cable is fastened to the jib adjacent the outer end of the shoulder member remote from the column.

3. A tower crane according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tip member is shorter than the shoulder member or the intermediate member

4. A tower crane according to any preceding claim, wherein the universal linkage comprises four links pivotally connected in series between the shoulder member and the intermediate member to form a series of five pivot points the pivot axes of which taken in series are perpendicular one with respect to the next.

5. A tower crane according to claim 4, wherein the universal linkage is in the erected state of the crane in substantial alignment with the horizontal sides of the shoulder member and intermediate member.

6. A tower crane according to claim 5, wherein between a first link of the universal linkage and the shoulder member of the jib, between second and third links of the universal linkage and between a fourth link and the intermediate member of the jib, respective bolts are provided for permitting relative pivotal movements.

7. A tower crane according to claim 5 or 6, wherein between the first link and the second link as well as between the third link and the fourth link respective bolts are provided that are transverse in relation to the longitudinal axis of the jib and are in a horizontal position when the jib is completely assembled and extends horizontally.

8. A tower crane according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the universal linkage is supported by a bracket member fastened on the shoulder member of the jib when the crane is in its erected state.

9. A tower crane according to claim 8, wherein the end of the bracket member is in the form of a dish supporting the universal linkage from below.

10. A tower crane according to any preceding claim, wherein the jib and the column are fastened together by temporary locking means when the crane is in its transportable state.

11. A tower crane substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.