Ring lift crane

Details Ring lift crane Ring lift crane

2002-06-24

2004-01-20

Brahan, Thomas J. (Department: 3652)

Traversing hoists

Adjustable to transport or nonuse position

Collapsible or foldable boom

C212S301000, C212S347000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06679394

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a ring lift crane of the type having a liftable ring forming a circular traveling path and including a plurality of segments which can be connected to one another, a chassis connected to the ring by reinforcement members, and a superstructure mounted for rotation on the chassis. The superstructure has two oppositely located end areas provided with respective front and rear adaptors, each adaptor having rollers which support it for rolling on the circular traveling path, the rear adaptor being constructed to receive a counterweight, and a main boom including a lattice mast having a head end and a foot end mounted for articulation on the front adaptor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A ring lift crane of the type mentioned above is known from DE 199 14 195 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,961. This known ring lift crane is provided with a liftable ring forming a circular traveling path and having a plurality of segments which can be connected to one another. Within the ring, there is arranged a chassis having a superstructure which is connected with the chassis so as to be rotatable and which has a plurality of winches. The chassis also has two bridge girders extending parallel to and at a distance from one another. Each bridge girder is provided with an adapter in two oppositely located end areas and can be bolted to or unbolted from the superstructure via cross-girders. The adapters are supported on the circular traveling path of the ring by means of rollers arranged in the end area of the adapters. The center of the ring and chassis forms the axis of rotation. The rear adapter is constructed so as to receive a counterweight and the front adapter is constructed so as to receive a boom in the form of a lattice mast which can be articulated, has at least one main boom and is provided with means for generating the rotating movement of the ring lift crane. The chassis is connected with different segments of the ring by reinforcement members.
This known ring lift crane has limited lifting capacity because it can not transmit larger forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a ring lift crane of the type mentioned above whose lifting capacity can be significantly increased in a simple manner.
According to the teaching of the invention, a lateral reinforcement is provided at least at one lattice mast component (main boom, fly jib, mast, luffing support) and extends along at least one half of the length of the lattice mast component. The main boom preferably has a lateral reinforcement whose foot end, like the foot end of the main boom, is connected in an articulated manner with the front adapter and whose head end is fixedly connected with an element of the main boom. In order to achieve maximum effect, the lateral reinforcement extends over the entire length of the main boom, so that the head end of the reinforcement is fixedly connected with the head piece of the main boom. The suggested principle of the arrangement of a lateral reinforcement is also advantageous for other lattice mast components such as a mast, fly jib and luffing support. The lateral reinforcement comprises at least one anchoring element which is arranged to the right and to the left at a distance to and parallel to the respective lattice mast component and which is connected at defined intervals via connection elements to the respective lattice mast element. For purposes of a particularly effective reinforcement, it can be advantageous when two anchoring elements, instead of one anchoring element, are provided per side. The connection between the anchoring element and the lattice mast element is preferably constructed as an isosceles triangle, the distance of the anchoring element from the lattice mast element corresponding at least to one half of the width of the lattice mast element. Depending on the design of the overall construction, the distance can also correspond to two- to four-times the width.
The suggested arrangement results in a reinforcement of the respective lattice mast component, preferably of the main boom in both lateral directions, and the arrangement can be tensile loaded or compression loaded when bars or tube are used as anchoring elements. Preferably, each bar or tube was a length corresponding to the length of the mast. Cables may also be used as anchoring elements. In another feature of the invention, as an alternative to lateral anchoring, lifting capacity can be increased in that the mast is constructed as a double-mast whose foot pieces are connected in an articulated manner to the front adapter. This also applies to a combination of double-main boom without lateral reinforcement in connection with a fly jib which is provided with a lateral reinforcement.
Further features, advantages and details of the invention result from the following description of an embodiment example shown in a drawing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2701647 (1955-02-01), Cope
patent: 3249238 (1966-05-01), Hedeen
patent: 3477522 (1969-11-01), Templeton
patent: 4053060 (1977-10-01), Wilson
patent: 4483448 (1984-11-01), Wittman et al.
patent: 4489818 (1984-12-01), Franke et al.
patent: 99/48793 (1999-09-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Ring lift crane does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Ring lift crane, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ring lift crane will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3200576