Traversing hoists – Having counterweight or counterbalancing means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-09-25
Brahan, Thomas J. (Department: 3652)
Traversing hoists
Having counterweight or counterbalancing means
C105S238100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293415
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a railborne mobile crane with a superstructure which is arranged so as to be swivelable about a vertical axis together with a counterweight and a boom on a truck. The contours of the superstructure are arranged within a prescribed clearance gauge of a section of track. The superstructure is outfitted with a device for compensation of curve superelevations.
2. Description of the Related Art
A railborne mobile crane mounted on a truck with a superstructure arranged so as to be swivelable about a vertical axis together with a boom and a counterweight is used for working on a track and adjacent to the track. The usefulness of such a railborne mobile crane depends extensively upon construction of the crane, the boom and the counterweight. Particularly when working on lengths of track in which the track is laid parallel to an adjacent track or is within a tunnel, special steps have to be taken to maintain a necessary clearance gauge with respect to the adjacent track or tunnel wall.
When working on two-track or multi-track stretches, it must be ensured that under all circumstances, for reasons of safety, no parts of the crane that jut out, such as parts of the counterweight, swivel into the prescribed clearance gauge of the adjacent track. Various crane constructions are known in which contours of the superstructure remain, during the use of the crane, within the prescribed clearance gauge of the track section.
A dangerous situation arises however when the crane contours conform to the prescribed clearance gauge but, because of superelevation of the track along curves, a railborne vehicle traveling on the adjacent track is inclined toward one side, and therefore enters the clearance gauge area of the railroad mobile crane.
During use, the railroad crane is usually oriented to the horizontal for purposes of maintaining stability and a preferred center of gravity. A curve superelevation compensation device is provided for horizontally orienting the crane on a superelevated i.e. curved or canted, section of track. The compensation device pivots the superstructure with the boom and the counterweight relative to the truck of the crane until the swiveling axis of the crane extends vertically. However, as a result of this righting of the crane relative to the length of track, the contour of the superstructure is shifted into the prescribed clearance gauge of the adjacent track so that a collision will occur with a railborne vehicle traveling on the adjacent track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a railborne mobile crane having a superstructure with a boom and a counterweight mounted on a chassis, that is safe for use on lengths of superelevated track without limiting load carrying capacity.
According to the present invention, two longitudinal sides and a rear side (i.e. the counterweight side) of the superstructure are arranged so that all contours of the superstructure lie within a safe area, in every swiveling position. The safe area is defined at each of two sides of a longitudinal axis of the crane by a respective imaginary plane while the sides of the superstructure are inclined inward from vertical, proceeding from a lower edge of the superstructure, by an angle of inclination at least corresponding to an angle of maximum allowable track superelevation. In similar fashion, a third respective inclined plane is defined at the rear side of the superstructure.
As a result of this novel arrangement of the superstructure of the mobile crane, the contour of the crane is always kept within a clearance gauge of the track section even when working in an uprighted attitude along the lengths of superelevated track. Collisions with vehicles on adjacent tracks or with tunnel walls along tracks running through tunnels are therefor safely prevented. Advantageously, the inventive railroad mobile crane is suitable for use on superelevated tracks within an entire 360-degree working range without limiting the load carrying capacity.
According to a further feature of the present invention, each of the two longitudinal sides of the superstructure and a rear side of the counterweight extend along the inclined plane. In this way, maximum use is made of allowable clearances.
According to another feature of the present invention, the superstructure is configured so that a maximum rear working radius of the superstructure is at most equal to half of a width of the crane. This ensures that during the swiveling of the crane no part of the superstructure ever projects outside of the inclined planes. In particular, the counterweight of the crane does not project beyond the inclined planes which define the contour of the superstructure.
The present invention accordingly corresponds to tightened regulations governing the use of railborne mobile cranes. The present invention makes it possible to safely use the crane, without limitations, along curved sections of track with compensation for superelevation, thereby enabling the full allotted carrying capacity to be utilized.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
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Article appearing in ETR (1992), H-12-Dezember entitled “SM90—ein neuer elektrischer Nahverkehrs—Triebzug für die Niederländische Staatshanh (NS)” by Ruud Boer Rookhuiszen und Rolf Schmidt, pp. 831-841.
Article entitled “Der ICE und mehr” appearing in eisenbahn magazin 9/94 pp. 15-17.
Article entitled “Flexibility Staffing” taken from Railway Gazette International 144 dated Oct. 1988, No. 10, Sutton, Surrey, Gr. Britain, p. 667.
Brahan Thomas J.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Mannesmann AG
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