GB2159122A - Movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes - Google Patents
Movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2159122A GB2159122A GB08510586A GB8510586A GB2159122A GB 2159122 A GB2159122 A GB 2159122A GB 08510586 A GB08510586 A GB 08510586A GB 8510586 A GB8510586 A GB 8510586A GB 2159122 A GB2159122 A GB 2159122A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- crane
- counterweight
- movable
- jib
- movable counterweight
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
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
- B66C23/76—Counterweights or supports for balancing lifting couples separate from jib and movable to take account of variations of load or of variations of length of 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
- B66C23/50—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 mounted on railway vehicles, e.g. breakdown cranes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Jib Cranes (AREA)
Abstract
In a movable counterweight arrangement the position of the centre of gravity of a jib-type rotary crane can be adapted, during operation of the crane, to the support bases which vary, (e.g. when the crane is mounted on rails), in the range of pivotal movement of the upper part of the crane over 360 DEG . The displacement of counterweight (5) is controlled either electro-hydraulically or, as shown, mechanically by the pivotal angular position of the upper part (6) of the crane with respect to the lower part (8). The electro-hydraulic control means is of such a configuration that a control amplifier, by way of a control unit, connects a pressure fluid generator to an operating cylinder until a difference, which is recorded by the control amplifier, of a reference value generator relative to an actual value generator, is compensated. Alternatively counterweight (5) is moved by a gear drive (11) and a lever linkage (12) mechanically which provides for converting the pivotal movement of the upper part of the crane (6) into a longitudinal displacement of the counterweight (5). <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes
The invention relates to a movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes. It can be used in railway rotary cranes, mobile rotary cranes and also excavators, in which the support base in their longitudinal direction is greater than in their transverse direction.
Jib-type rotary cranes are known whose counterweights, during crane transportation, are carried on a separate truck, and in use of the crane are fixedly mounted to the end of the upper carrying chassis of the crane remote from the jib. In that construction, the counterweight is fixedly mounted so that the counterweight moment, in operation of the crane, always remains constant (DD-patent specification No 38 572; DD patent specification No 38 856).
Other jib-type rotary cranes are known, wherein the counterweight is moved in dependence on the luffing or telescoping of the jib.
According to German laid-open application (DE
OS) No 26 52 543, the counterweights are mounted on a pivotable counterweight carrier which is connected to the jib. The change in the length of action of the counterweight carriers and thus the counterweight moment is produced by the luffing movement of the jib.
Other counterweight arrangements on jib-type rotary cranes are known, in which the counterweight is moved horizontally on a carrier construction, in dependence on the position of the jib (DD patent specification No 148 798 and German patent specification No 2 821 286).
The above-indicated constructions suffer from the common disadvantage that the position of the movable counterweights is not in dependence on the different support bases of the jib-type rotary crane. That means that the position of the general centre of gravity of the jib-type rotary crane and thus also the position of the counterweights must be fixed in accordance with the smallest support base available so as to ensure the necessary rearward stability of the crane.
Another disadvantage in the known constructions is that they represent solutions in which the movable counterweights are only arranged on the rotatable upper part of the crane. If, due to the situation of use, a given small rearward extension of the rotary upper part of the crane is necessary, then those constructions can only be used for cranes which have a low carrying capacity as, with a small rearward extension of the upper part of the crane and with a counterweight arranged thereon, that construction only provides a low counterweight moment.
The invention provides a movable counterweight arrangement which provides optimum crane pa
rameters and thus an improvement in the operational properties of the jib-type rotary crane.
According to the present invention there is provided a movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes, wherein a jib and a counterweight are arranged to extend in opposite directions, and the counterweight is arranged either on the upper part of the crane so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane or it is arranged on the lower part of the crane so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the jib-type rotary crane or transversely of the longitudinal direction, the position of the counterweight being altered during operation of the crane, displacement of the movable counterweight being effected in dependence on the pivotal angular position of the upper part of the crane with respect to the lower part of the crane.
The invention is based on the problem of adapting the position of the centre of gravity of the jibtype rotary crane, by means of a movably disposed counterweight, to the support bases which are different over the range of pivotal movement of 360" of the upper part of the crane. In that respect, displacement of the counterweight is to occur automatically. The solution is to be suitable for use both for a counterweight which is disposed on the upper part of the crane and also for a counterweight which is disposed on the lower part of the crane.
That problem is solved in that displacement of the counterweight is effected by means of a pressure flow consumer, for example a hydraulic operating cylinder, in accordance with the invention, by way of an electro-hydraulic control means which is actuated by the pivotal movement of the upper part of the crane. In that arrangement, the electrohydraulic control means is of such a configuration that a control amplifier, by way of a control unit, connects a pressure fluid generator to a hydraulic operating cylinder until a difference, which is registered by the control amplifier, of the reference value from the reference value generator, relative to the actual value of the actual value generator, is compensated.The arrangement of further reference value generators and a microprocessor makes it possible to provide an electro-hydraulic control means which is actuated by the respective load moment occurring and by the respective variation in support, besides being controlled by the pivotal movement of the upper part of the crane. In that arrangement, the displaceable counterweights are disposed either on the upper part of the crane, in the longitudinal direction, or in the lower part of the crane, in the lonitudinal or transverse direction.
In another alternative form of the construction according to the invention, automatic displacement of the movable counterweight may be effected mechanically. In that arrangement, the pivotal movement of the upper part of the crane is converted into a longitudinal movement of displacing the movable counterweight by the arrangement of a pair of gears at the turning centre, and a lever linkage which is driven thereby and which engages the counterweight.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a jib-type ro tary crane with the upper part of the crane positioned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
Figure 2 shows the jib-type rotary crane with the upper part of the crane positioned transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
Figure 3 shows a plan view of the crane and illustrating the mechanical drive means for displacing the counterweight which is disposed in the upper part of the crane;
Figure 4 shows a jib-type rotary crane of short rearward extension and a movable counterweight arrangement in the lower part of the crane;
Figure 5 shows a plan view of the lower part of the crane shown in Figure 4, illustrating a mechanical drive means; and
Figure 6 shows a diagram of an electro-hydraulic control means.
In a jib-type rotary crane 1, in the unsupported condition of operation, the support base 2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the jib-type rotary crane (Figure 1) is significantly greater than the support base 3 in a direction transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the jib-type rotary crane (Figure 2). In that arrangement, the position of the centre of gravity 4 of the jib-type rotary crane 1 is critically determined by the short support base 3.
With the same weight of the crane 1, an optimum load moment is achieved according to the invention in that displacement of the movable counterweight 5 is effected by the pivotal movement of the rotary upper part 6 of the crane, in dependence on the support bases 2 and 3 which differ in the range of pivotal movement.
The counterweight 5 is displaced by a hydraulic operating cylinder 7 which is actuated by an electro-hydraulic control means in dependence on the angle of pivotal movement of the upper part 6 of the crane (see Figure 6). In that arrangement, the hydraulic operating cylinder 7 is supplied with pressure fluid from a pressure fluid generator 18 by way of a control valve unit 17, in the direction of pressure fluid flow which is predetermined by the control amplifier 14, until a difference, which is registered by the control amplifier 14, of the reference value from the reference value generator 15 and the actual value from the actual value generator 16 is compensated. The control amplifier 14 which is connected to a voltage source 19 is linked to the pivotal movement of the upper part 6 of the crane and the actual value generator 16 is linked to the position of the counterweight 5.
The electro-hydraulic control means for displacing the movable counterweight 5 in dependence on the pivotal angular positioning of the upper part 6 of the crane is enlarged by taking account of the signals from the load moment and the variation in support. For that purpose, the arrangement provides further reference value generators 15, wherein the respective difference values from the generators, jointly with the difference values from the pivotal angular position of the upper part 6 of the crane, are received by a microprocessor 20 which is included in the arrangement. The control amplifier 14, by way of a microprocessor 20, causes the operating cylinder 7 to be connected to the pressure fluid generator 18 by way of the control unit 17.
An alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, provides for mechanical automatic displacement of the movable counterweights which is disposed in the upper part 6 of the crane and which is necessarily dependent on the angle of pivotal movement of the upper part 6 of the crane.
In that arrangement, the pivotal movement of the upper part 6 of the crane is transmitted to the displaceably disposed counterweight 5, by way of a pair of gears 11 and a lever linkage 2.
Figure 4 shows an alternative form of the invention in which, due to the situation of use of the crane, a predetermined short rearward extension of the uppre part 6 of the crane is necessary. In that case, optimum utilisation of the power weight ratio is achieved by the movable counterweight 5 being disposed on thelower part 8 of the crane.
Upon pivotal movement of the upper part 6 of the crane, the counterweight 5 is displaced in the opposite direction to the jib 10 from the centre 9 of the crane, transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the jib-type rotary crane 1.
Figure 5 shows another alternative form of a mechanical construction according to the invention of the drive means, wherein the counterweight 5 is arranged in the lower part 8 of the crane. A lever linkage 12 is disposed at the centre of the crane 9, with its one end, while with its other end it is disposed at a guide means 13. The guide means 13 engages into the movable counterweight 5. The counterweight 5 is displaced transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by the pivotal movement of the upper part 6 of the crane.
Automatic displacement of the movable counterweight 5 in dependence on the pivotal motion of the upper part 6 of the crane is also achieved by the provision of separate electrical drive means, by way of a proportional control means.
Claims (6)
1. A movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes, wherein a jib and a counterweight are arranged to extend in opposite directions, and the counterweight is arranged either on the upper part of the crane so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane or it is arranged on the lower part of the crane so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the jib-type rotary crane or transversely of the longitudinal direction, the position of the counterweight being altered during operation of the crane, displacement of the movable counterweight being effected in dependence on the pivotal angular position of the upper part of the crane with respect to the lower part of the crane.
2. A movable counterweight arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which, for the purpose of displacing the movable counterweight in dependence on the angular position of the upper part of the crane, there is provided an electro- hydraulic control means, wherein a control amplifier, in the event of differences in a reference value signal from a reference value generator relative to an actual value signal from an actual value generator, by way of a control unit, connects the operating cylinder which displaces the counterweight to a pressure fluid generator.
3. A movable counterweight arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which, for the purposes of displacing the movable counterweight in dependence on the angular position of the upper part of the crane, there is provided a mechanical coupling means having a pair of gears and a lever linkage.
4. A movable counterweight arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the movable counterweight is arranged in the upper part or in the lower part of the crane.
5. A movable counterweight arrangement as claimed in claim 2, in which provided in the electro-hydraulic control means for displacing the movable counterweight in dependence on the angular position of the upper part of the crane are further reference value generators for detecting load moment, any variation in support and the pivotal angular position of the upper part of the crane, said further reference value generators supplying signal to a microprocessor, which by way of the control unit, connects the operating cylinder to the pressure fluid generator.
6. A movable counterweight arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DD84263377A DD224303A1 (en) | 1984-05-25 | 1984-05-25 | MOVABLE COMPENSATION, ESPECIALLY FOR BOOM CRANES |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8510586D0 GB8510586D0 (en) | 1985-05-30 |
| GB2159122A true GB2159122A (en) | 1985-11-27 |
| GB2159122B GB2159122B (en) | 1987-10-14 |
Family
ID=5557314
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08510586A Expired GB2159122B (en) | 1984-05-25 | 1985-04-25 | Movable counterweight arrangement, in particular for jib-type rotary cranes |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DD (1) | DD224303A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3508215A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2159122B (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4679336A (en) * | 1984-12-01 | 1987-07-14 | J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited | Earth moving machine |
| WO1994021549A1 (en) * | 1993-03-18 | 1994-09-29 | American Crane Corporation | Apparatus and method for handling a counterweight |
| US5518128A (en) * | 1992-11-06 | 1996-05-21 | Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft | Crane, particularly railway crane |
| US8985353B2 (en) | 2006-10-27 | 2015-03-24 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight |
| US9278834B2 (en) | 2009-08-06 | 2016-03-08 | Manitowoc Crane Group, LLC | Lift crane with moveable counterweight |
| JP2016203926A (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2016-12-08 | 学校法人 名城大学 | Inspection device |
| US10179722B2 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2019-01-15 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Lift crane with improved movable counterweight |
| US10183848B2 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2019-01-22 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Height adjustment mechanism for an auxiliary member on a crane |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4237948C5 (en) * | 1992-11-06 | 2008-08-28 | Gottwald Port Technology Gmbh | Crane, in particular railway crane |
| DE19743871A1 (en) * | 1997-10-04 | 1999-04-15 | Noell Stahl Und Maschinenbau G | Long-reach stacker crane |
| DE19931303C2 (en) * | 1999-07-07 | 2002-11-21 | Liebherr Werk Ehingen | Capacity optimization when executing crane movements |
| DE19931302B4 (en) * | 1999-07-07 | 2006-03-30 | Liebherr-Werk Ehingen Gmbh | Continuously adjustable crane |
| CN104444843B (en) * | 2014-12-03 | 2016-11-23 | 舟山长宏国际船舶修造有限公司 | A kind of full circle swinging small-sized crane |
| CN114506690A (en) * | 2020-11-16 | 2022-05-17 | 南京宝地梅山产城发展有限公司 | Device for automatically adjusting gravity center position of material machine and control method thereof |
| CN116062635B (en) * | 2023-03-23 | 2023-08-18 | 杭州未名信科科技有限公司 | Embedded integrated driving control system and method for slewing mechanism of tower crane |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1201398A (en) * | 1968-06-06 | 1970-08-05 | British Railways Board | Improvements relating to mobile cranes or like machines with slewable lifting arms |
| EP0064896A1 (en) * | 1981-05-08 | 1982-11-17 | TRAVAUX DU SUD-OUEST Société Anonyme | Crane wagon provided with a movable counter weight device |
-
1984
- 1984-05-25 DD DD84263377A patent/DD224303A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1985
- 1985-03-08 DE DE19853508215 patent/DE3508215A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-04-25 GB GB08510586A patent/GB2159122B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1201398A (en) * | 1968-06-06 | 1970-08-05 | British Railways Board | Improvements relating to mobile cranes or like machines with slewable lifting arms |
| EP0064896A1 (en) * | 1981-05-08 | 1982-11-17 | TRAVAUX DU SUD-OUEST Société Anonyme | Crane wagon provided with a movable counter weight device |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4679336A (en) * | 1984-12-01 | 1987-07-14 | J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited | Earth moving machine |
| US5518128A (en) * | 1992-11-06 | 1996-05-21 | Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft | Crane, particularly railway crane |
| WO1994021549A1 (en) * | 1993-03-18 | 1994-09-29 | American Crane Corporation | Apparatus and method for handling a counterweight |
| US5598935A (en) * | 1993-03-18 | 1997-02-04 | American Crane Corporation | Frame structure for lift crane machinery |
| US10336589B2 (en) | 2006-10-27 | 2019-07-02 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight |
| US8985353B2 (en) | 2006-10-27 | 2015-03-24 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight |
| US11884522B2 (en) | 2006-10-27 | 2024-01-30 | Grove U.S. L.L.C. | Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight |
| US9278834B2 (en) | 2009-08-06 | 2016-03-08 | Manitowoc Crane Group, LLC | Lift crane with moveable counterweight |
| US10457530B2 (en) | 2009-08-06 | 2019-10-29 | Manitowoc Cranes, Llc | Lift crane with moveable counterweight |
| US11261064B2 (en) | 2009-08-06 | 2022-03-01 | Manitowoc Cranes, Llc | Lift crane with moveable counterweight |
| US10179722B2 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2019-01-15 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Lift crane with improved movable counterweight |
| US10183848B2 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2019-01-22 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Height adjustment mechanism for an auxiliary member on a crane |
| US11208303B2 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2021-12-28 | Manitowoc Crane Companies, Llc | Lift crane with improved movable counterweight |
| JP2016203926A (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2016-12-08 | 学校法人 名城大学 | Inspection device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8510586D0 (en) | 1985-05-30 |
| DD224303A1 (en) | 1985-07-03 |
| GB2159122B (en) | 1987-10-14 |
| DE3508215A1 (en) | 1985-11-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |