Traversing hoists – Adjustable to transport or nonuse position – Vehicle stablizing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-26
2003-02-11
Brahan, Thomas J. (Department: 3652)
Traversing hoists
Adjustable to transport or nonuse position
Vehicle stablizing means
C212S196000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06516961
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a ringlift crane.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A known ringlift crane is described in the Mannesmann Demag Baumaschinen company brochure entitled “Ringlift Cranes” CC 2000 RL; CC 4000 RL, issue November 1982. This ringlift crane has a ring which can be elevated, forms an annular track and comprises a plurality of segments which can be connected to one another. Arranged within the ring is an undercarriage and an upper carriage, which is connected for slewing action thereto and has a plurality of hoisting winches. In the two end regions, the upper carriage is connected to in each case one adapter, and these adapters are supported with rolling action on the annular track of the ring by means of sets of rollers which are arranged on the adapters and are connected to one another via links. In this case, the center point of the ring and/or of the undercarriage forms the slewing axis. One adapter is designed for accommodating a counterweight and the other adapter is designed as a load-bearing element for a boom which can be articulated at the free end of the adapter. The slewing movement of the ringlift crane is produced by means of a toothed rim, which is arranged on the inside of the ring, and pinions which engage in the rim and are mounted via links. For the purpose of stabilizing the overall structure, the undercarriage is connected to different sections of the ring via reinforcing struts.
A comparable design is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,783. This ringlift crane comprises a ring, which can be elevated and forms an annular track, and a structure within the ring with a kingpin and a platform which is provided with a sleeve for accommodating the kingpin. In the two end regions, the platform is connected to in each case one adapters. The adapters are supported with rolling action on the ring by means of sets of rollers arranged on the adapters. The center point of the ring forms the slewing axis for the platform. A plurality of hoisting winches are arranged on the platform and a counterweight is arranged on the rear adapter. A main boom and a mast (counter-boom) are articulated on the front adapter. The single-part ring is stiffened by struts which run within the ring in secant form. In each case one piston/cylinder unit is arranged at four points of the circumference, at the ends of two mutually parallel struts, it being possible for a supporting foot to be arranged at the free end of the piston/cylinder unit. By means of these four piston/cylinder units, it is possible for the ring to be raised together with the crane arranged thereon, with the result that a crawler-type vehicle or the like can be moved therebeneath. The crawler-type vehicle can be locked to the load-bearing element. Travel of the ringlift crane as a whole is possible in this way.
The disadvantage with the last-mentioned design is that the size of the ring diameter, and thus the maximum load which can be borne, is limited. Moreover, the way in which the ringlift crane is connected to the transporting unit is complicated. Furthermore, the non-divided ring requires a large amount of space during travel of the ringlift crane and, depending on the local conditions at the use location, this amount of space is not always available.
A ringlift crane of the generic type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,816. This ringlift crane comprises a ring which can be elevated, forms an annular track and has a plurality of segments which can be connected to one another, there being arranged within said ring an undercarriage which has an upper carriage, which is connected for slewing action to the undercarriage and has a plurality of hoisting winches, and two trusses which are spaced apart parallel to one another and are provided, in two mutually opposite end regions, with in each case one adapter and can be bolted to, and unbolted from, the upper carriage via crossmembers. The adapters are supported with rolling action on the annular track of the ring by means of rollers arranged on the adapters, it being the case that the center point of the ring and/or of the undercarriage forms the slewing axis. One adapter is designed for accommodating a counterweight and the other adapter is designed for accommodating a boom which may be articulated. A toothed rim is arranged for producing the slewing movement of the ringlift crane, the slewing movement thereof being transmitted to the two trusses. The undercarriage is connected to different sections of the ring via reinforcing struts.
The disadvantage here is that, during pivoting and traveling, the components of the crane are supported on the ring and thus on the undercarriage. On account of the power of the crawler-type vehicles being too low, first of all counterweight reductions have to be carried out for traveling and pivoting. Since the counterweight cannot be displaced, further dismantling operations (e.g. boom parts) are necessary for balancing out the crane. In order that the crane can pivot or travel, it has to be raised up on the ring and the supporting plates either have to be removed completely or all have to be raised upward individually.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a ringlift crane which can easily be pivoted and made to travel in a space-saving manner and without counterweight reductions and without parts being dismantled. Moreover, the intention is for it to be possible to use as many components as possible in a modular manner for different ringlift classes.
The invention proposes that, for the purpose of setting different modes of operation of the crane, the trusses can be raised relative to the basic machine and connected in different ways to the crossmembers with a force fit, it being the case that, in the starting position, the form-fitting connection between the trusses and the crossmembers has a predeterminable level of play. For the stewing movement a plurality of ring trolleys are provided which are of identical construction, have two axles and wheels fastened thereon and can be connected with a form fit, on the one hand, to the trusses and, on the other hand, to the ring or a ring segment. At least one axle of the ring trolleys arranged beneath the boom and/or beneath the counterweight can be driven. It is thus possible to dispense with the hitherto conventional toothed rim and the high-outlay pinion drive. In order to realize the force fitting connection between the truss and the crossmember, an upright bolt having a stop is arranged in each end region of each crossmember. If there are two crossmembers, this means four bolts. The stop, which preferably comprises a round plate, interacts with a bearing block which encloses the bolt and is fastened on the truss. The spacing between the top side of the crossmember and the plate of the bolt, on the one hand, and the spacing between the base plate of the bearing block and the stop of the bolt, on the other hand, can be partially or more or less completely filled by spacer plates which can be displaced on the top side of the crossmember. The spacer plates can be bolted and unbolted via carry-along pins.
Depending on the size of the ring, each truss comprises sections which are suitable for normal road transport and can be bolted to one another and unbolted from one another. Unlike the known prior art, the four piston/cylinder units, which are necessary for raising the overall structure, are arranged in the end region of the trusses. Preferably fastened on each end side of each truss is an angle piece, which, at its free end, can be connected to the piston/cylinder unit. As is known, a supporting foot can be arranged at the free end of the piston. The operation of raising the overall structure by means of the four piston/cylinder units allows the force fitting connection between the crossmembers and the two trusses. This easily ensures the capacity of the ringlift crane for pivoting and traveling.
The different ways of providing a force fitting connection between the trusses and the crossmembers on th
Biermann Michael
Frankenberger Ralf
Knecht Alexander
Kretschmer Manfred
Atecs Mannesmann AG
Brahan Thomas J.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
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