Crane assembly for a toy vehicle, as well as a crane toy vehicle with such a crane assembly
The crane structure addresses the issue of varying lifting increments in toy vehicles by using a cam link mechanism with movable and frame-fixed guides and a double-lever transmission lever, ensuring consistent lifting motion and improved gaming experience.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BRUDER SPIELWAREN GMBH & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing crane arm lifting mechanisms in toy vehicles suffer from varying lifting increments due to the angular position of the transmission lever, affecting the sensitivity and smoothness of the lifting motion, which impairs the gaming experience.
A crane structure with a cam link mechanism that reduces the dependence of lifting movement on the angular position of the transmission lever by incorporating a movable guide at a non-zero angle to the crane superstructure and a frame-fixed guide, along with a double-lever transmission lever and a rotary knob, to ensure consistent lifting increments.
The solution provides a smoother lifting motion by maintaining consistent lifting increments regardless of the transmission lever's angular position, enhancing the gaming experience and operational stability.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a crane superstructure for a toy vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a crane toy vehicle with such a crane superstructure.
[0002] Crane toy vehicles are known from DE 10 2010 001 448 A1 and DE 10 2012 201 191 A1.
[0003] The object of the present invention is to further develop a crane structure and a crane-equipped toy vehicle of the type mentioned above in such a way that the handling of a liftable crane arm is improved.
[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a crane structure with the features specified in claim 1.
[0005] According to the invention, it was discovered that in a crane arm lifting mechanism using a articulated transmission lever, an angular function regularly comes into play. This means that when a linear movement is transmitted via the transmission lever into a crane arm lifting movement, the linear increment results in different lifting increments of the crane arm, depending on the angular position of the transmission lever. The sensitivity of the actuation therefore depends on the respective lifting position of the crane arm, which can impair the gaming experience. The lifting device according to the invention reduces the dependence of the lifting movement on the angular position of the transmission lever, since the cam links generate an additional influence on the functional relationship between the linear actuation movement and the derived crane arm lifting movement.This can be used, in particular, to smooth a lifting motion as a function of the actuating rotary motion. The first, movable guide can run at a non-zero angle to a vertical axis of the crane superstructure. This angle can be in the range of 10° to 50°, and especially in the range of 20° to 40°, for example, at 30°. The second, frame-fixed guide can run at an angle to the horizontal of the crane superstructure, which is in the range of 10° to 70°. This angle of the second guide can be in the range of 20° to 60°, between 20° and 40°, between 20° and 30°, and especially in the range of 25°. An angle between the inclined path of the second guide and the inclined path of the first, movable guide can be in the range of 80° to 120°, and especially in the range of 90° to 100°.The transmission lever can be designed as a double lever with two single transmission levers guided on either side of the crane arm.
[0006] A rotary knob according to claim 2 is a particularly simple actuating rotary element.
[0007] A deflection gear according to claim 3 can be implemented in a cost-effective and stable manner on both sides, particularly using plastic components.
[0008] The movable actuating rotary element according to claim 4 makes it possible to conceal it in the neutral position, for example, behind a flap or a door. Even in the extended actuating position, the actuating rotary element remains easily accessible and grippable.
[0009] An ineffective displacement path section with respect to the frame-fixed cam according to claim 5 makes it possible to utilize the effect of the frame-fixed cam on the lifting of the crane arm where it is required due to the aforementioned angular function dependency. Starting from the fully lowered basic position, a small contribution from a linear movement of the movable cam support regularly results in a relatively large lifting movement of the crane arm due to a corresponding basic positioning of the transmission lever, so that in this section of the total displacement path near the fully lowered basic position, no additional contribution from the frame-fixed cam is required to lift the crane arm.
[0010] A slotted hole according to claim 6 has proven to be a particularly suitable movable backdrop.
[0011] A ramp according to claim 7 can be robustly manufactured and does not require tight tolerances when coordinating the components of the lifting device with each other. As an alternative to a linear ramp, the frame-mounted cam can also have a curved profile, which is particularly progressively designed such that where the angle function has a large influence on the lifting movement, a ramp with a small slope is selected, and where the angle function of the transmission lever has a small influence on the lifting movement, a large slope of the ramp of the frame-mounted cam is used.
[0012] The advantages of a crane-type toy vehicle according to claim 8 correspond to those already explained above with reference to the crane structure.
[0013] A crane-themed toy vehicle according to claim 8 can be designed as a crane vehicle, a crane trailer, or a crane semi-trailer. The toy vehicle and its components, in particular the crane superstructure and its components, can be made entirely of plastic, with the exception of the cables.
[0014] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. This drawing shows: Fig. 1 a side view of a crane superstructure for a toy vehicle, wherein a driver's cab and wheels of the toy vehicle are additionally indicated, and wherein a crane arm of the crane superstructure is shown in a fully lowered position; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the crane structure from an oblique angle above; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the crane structure from below at an angle; Fig. 4. A top view of the crane structure with the crane arm in a partially raised position, also showing an operating rotary element that is in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 is concealed by a door flap; Fig. 5 a cut according to line VV in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a cut along line VI-VI in Fig. 4; Fig. 7. A view of the crane structure with the crane arm in a maximally raised position; Fig. 8 a cut along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a cut according to line IX-IX in Fig. 7; Fig. 10. A view of the crane structure with the crane arm in the fully lowered position according to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3; Fig. 11 a section according to line XI-XI in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 a cut according to line XII-XII in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 a rear view of a crane arm assembly, corresponding to a viewing direction XIII in the Fig. 1 in the fully lowered position, wherein two crane functional components designed as crane hooks are shown in a lowered position in which ropes connecting the crane hooks to the crane arm are partially unwound by means of a winding device; Fig. 14 a view of the assembly from viewpoint XIV in the Fig. 13; Fig. 15 a cut according to line XV-XV in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 a cut according to line XVI-XVI in Fig. 14; Fig. 17 a cut according to line XVII-XVII in Fig. 14; Fig. 18 in a sectional view accordingly Fig. 17, the assembly with the winding device with the crane functional components in a transport position in which the crane hooks engage in transport eyes of the crane arm and the ropes are tensioned, wherein a crank handle of a crank is also shown as an actuating element for unwinding and winding up the ropes in a neutral position; Fig. 19 a view of the assembly from the XIX perspective in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 in turn, supervision of the assembly group according to the Fig. 14 and Fig. 19, where the crank, as in the Fig. 14, in an operating position and wherein the crane hooks (not visible in the Fig. 20) and the ropes in the transport position comparable to Fig. 18 are available; Fig. 21 a cut according to line XXI-XXI in the Fig. 20; Fig. 22 a cut according to line XXII-XXII in the Fig. 20; and Fig. 23 a cut according to line XXIII-XXIII in the Fig. 20.
[0015] Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 3 shows a crane assembly 1 for a toy vehicle 2, of which in the Fig. 1. Additionally, a driver's cab 3 and wheels 4 are indicated. The toy vehicle 2 can be, as in the Fig. The vehicle shown in figure 1 is a crane truck. Alternatively, the toy vehicle shown in figure 2 could also be a crane trailer or a crane semi-trailer.
[0016] The crane superstructure 1 has a crane arm 5, which is designed as a multi-functional arm. Part of the crane arm 5 is a telescopic functional boom 6, which can be extended / retracted telescopically relative to a base crane arm 7 by means of an actuating rotary knob 8. At the free end of the functional boom 6, the crane superstructure has a winding device 9 for unwinding and winding ropes or cords 10, 11 (see figure). Fig. 3), via which the two crane functional components in the form of crane hooks 12, 13 are connected to the crane arm 5, namely the functional boom 6. The crane hooks 12, 13 are in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 shown in a transport position in which they engage in transport lugs 14, 15 which are fixed to the base crane arm 7.
[0017] Details of the changing unit 9 are described below, particularly in connection with the Fig. 13 ff. still described.
[0018] The crane assembly 1 also includes a superstructure frame 16. The crane arm 5 is attached to the latter via a base joint 17 (see e.g. Fig. 6) Swivel-mounted.
[0019] At the end of the base crane arm 7 opposite the base joint 17, a holding fork device 18 with two holding forks 19, 20 is arranged. The holding forks 19, 20 serve to pick up tires from one axle of another vehicle, which can be towed by the toy vehicle 2. Such a vehicle tire of a vehicle to be towed is in the Fig. 1 at 21 is indicated. The holding fork device 18 is comparable to a real-world model between a folded-up transport position and one in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. The towing position shown in the 3 illustrations is designed to be foldable.
[0020] To reposition a free end of the crane arm 5, which includes on one side the functional boom 6 and on the other side the holding fork device 18, between at least one in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. A lifting device 22 serves to move the device to the lowered position shown in Figure 3 and to at least one raised position. Details of the lifting device 22 are described below, in particular with reference to the following: Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig. 12 explained.
[0021] The lifting device 22 has an actuating rotary element 23 which is located in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 is not visible because it is covered by a door 24 of the mounting frame 16. The actuating rotary element 23 is designed as a rotary knob. The actuating rotary element 23 can be moved between a retracted neutral position, in which the door 24 can be closed, and a position in the Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig. The actuating rotary element 23 can be moved to the operating position shown in section 12. In this position, the operator can easily grasp the rotary element 23 for rotary operation.
[0022] The actuating rotary element 23 has a gear section 25 (see figure). Fig. 5), which meshes with a rack section 26 of a movable cam support 27. The movable cam support 27 is linearly displaceable relative to the superstructure frame 16, which in the Fig. 6 is indicated by a double arrow 28. The movable cam support 27 has a first, movable cam 29, which is designed as an elongated slot. This first cam runs at an angle α to a vertical axis of the crane superstructure 1, which is located, for example, in the Fig. Figure 6 illustrates this. This angle α is in the range of 30°.
[0023] The actuating rotary element 23 and the movable cam carrier 27 are components of the lifting device 22.
[0024] The lifting device 22 also includes a transmission lever 30. One end 31 of the transmission lever 30 is designed as a cam end 31. This cam end 31 is guided, among other things, by means of the movable cam 29. The other end of the transmission lever 30 is designed as a pivot end 32. The pivot end 32 of the transmission lever 30 is pivotally mounted on the crane arm 5 about a lever joint 33.
[0025] The transmission lever 30 is designed as a double lever with two single transmission levers 30a, 30b guided on either side of the crane arm 5 (see e.g. Fig. 5) executed. This double-lever design of the transmission lever 30 is symmetrical, so it is sufficient to describe one of these two single levers 30a, 30b as the transmission lever 30.
[0026] The lifting device 22 also includes a frame-mounted guide support 34. This frame-mounted guide support 34 is designed as an integral, one-piece component of the superstructure frame 16. The frame-mounted guide support 34 has a second, frame-mounted guide 35, which has a linear inclined profile. An angle β between this inclined profile of the second guide 35 (cf. again, e.g., Fig. 6) The angle to the horizontal is approximately 25°, with the second support rising towards the rear of the crane superstructure 1. The angle between the slope of the second support 35 and the slope of the first support 29 is approximately 95°.
[0027] The cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30 is in a section of a total displacement path of the crane arm 5 between the lowered position after the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 and a fully raised position, for example after Fig. 9, also guided by means of the second, frame-fixed cam 35. The rising cam profile of the second cam 35 is such that the cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30 is itself raised when the crane arm 5 is moved between the lowered position and the raised position. This makes a comparison between the Fig. 9, in which the backdrop end 31 is shown in the maximum raised position of the crane arm 5, and the Fig. Figure 12, in which the end of the backdrop 31 is shown in the maximum lowered position of the crane arm 5, is clearly visible. In the position after Fig. 9 the end of the backdrop 31 is in the uppermost position of the first backdrop 29 formed by the elongated hole and in the position after Fig. 12 in the lowest position of this first backdrop 29.
[0028] Near the fully lowered basic position of crane arm 5 after Fig. 12 The frame-fixed, second cam 35 is initially ineffective in a section of the crane arm 5's total displacement path between the lowered and raised positions. The cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30, together with the inclined, frame-fixed second cam 35, moves relative to the frame-fixed cam support 34 from the fully lowered basic position of the crane arm 5. Fig. 12, so only after a certain displacement path is involved, in connection.
[0029] The function of the lifting device 22 is described below using the example of raising the crane arm 5 from the fully lowered basic position to Fig. 12 into the fully raised position after Fig. 9 via the intermediate position to Fig. 6 explained: Starting from the fully lowered basic position according to Fig. 12 will be in the Fig. 12 the actuating rotary element 23 is rotated counterclockwise, so that, through the interaction of the gear section 25 with the rack section 26, the movable cam support 27 is moved relative to the frame-fixed cam support 34 and thus relative to the entire superstructure frame 16 in the Fig. 12 is shifted to the right. The amount of this linear shift of the movable cam carrier 27 relative to the mounting frame 16 depends linearly on the angle of rotation of a rotation of the actuating rotary element 23. This also shifts the cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30 in the Fig. 12, due to the driving effect of the first movable cam 29, is also shifted to the right, and the crane arm 5 begins to lift from the lowered position due to the supporting effect of the transmission angle 30 pivoting around the lifting joint 33. In the first section of the total displacement path, starting from the fully lowered basic position, a relatively strong lifting effect results as a function of the relative linear displacement between the movable cam support 27 and the frame-fixed cam support 34, since small angular changes in the position of the transmission lever 30 lead to a relatively large difference in the stroke with respect to the lifting joint 33 and thus the crane arm 5.
[0030] The crane arm 5 pivots around its base joint 17 during lifting and lowering. From the first part of the total displacement path starting from the home position, the cam end 31 of the transmission lever also reaches the second frame-fixed cam 35, so that the cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30 is now also additionally lifted via the inclined path of the frame-fixed cam 35, which further supports the lifting action by pivoting the transmission lever 30 around the lifting joint 33. An instantaneous position in which this support effect ceases is shown by the Fig. 6 as an intermediate position between the basic position after Fig. 12 and the fully raised position of the crane arm 5 after Fig. 9. In the intermediate position after Fig. 6 The cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30 is raised by the inclined, frame-fixed second cam 35 to such an extent that approximately half the stroke is achieved, which is specified over the entire displacement path of the movable first cam 29. In addition to the slew angle stroke contribution, there is then also a further cam inclination stroke contribution that the transmission lever 30 exerts on the crane arm 5. Fig. Figure 9 shows the crane arm 5 in its fully raised position, where the cam end 31 of the transmission lever 30 has reached both the upper end of the first movable cam 29 and the inclined end of the second frame-fixed cam 35. This results in a lifting movement of the crane arm 5, in which each increment of the angular adjustment of the actuating rotary element 23 approximately corresponds to the same lifting increment of the crane arm 5.
[0031] Based on the Fig. The winding device 9 is described in more detail below, starting on pages 13 ff. Fig. 13, Fig. 14, Fig. 15, Fig. 16, Fig. 17, Fig. 18, Fig. 19, Fig. 20, Fig. 21, Fig. 22 to Fig. Figures 23 each show a sub-assembly 36 of the crane superstructure 1, which includes the crane arm 5 with the basic crane arm 7 and the functional boom 6, as well as the winding device 9 and the holding fork device 18.
[0032] The winding device 9 has a winding roller 37. The latter serves to reposition the crane functional components 12, 13 between an elevated position, for example the transport position, and the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3, and a lowered position, for example, the one after Fig. 13, by unwinding / winding the ropes 10, 11 from / onto the winding roller 37. Unwinding the respective rope 10, 11 from the winding roller 37 serves to lower the crane functional components 12, 13 from the raised position to the lowered position. Winding the ropes 10, 11 onto the winding roller 37 serves to raise the crane functional components 12, 13 from the lowered position to the raised position.
[0033] The winding device 9 has a crank rod 38 (see e.g. Fig. 17) Rotating crank 39. The crank 39 serves as an actuating element for unwinding and winding the ropes 10, 11. The crank rod 38 has a crank threaded section 40 which meshes with a gear section 41 of the winding roller 37. The gear section 41 (cf. e.g. Fig. 15) represents a central roller section of the winding roller 37. The two adjacent outer roller sections of the winding roller 37 are winding sections 42, 43 for winding the ropes 10, 11. These winding sections 42, 43 for winding the ropes 10, 11 can be designed as roller sections with smooth outer walls.
[0034] A bearing housing 44 serves to support the winding roller 37 and the crank 39 (see below). Fig. 16) of the winding device 9. In the bearing housing 44, a partition 45 serves to separate, at least partially, a winding chamber 46 of the bearing housing 44 from a gear chamber 47 of the bearing housing 44. The winding sections 42, 43 of the winding roller 37 are located in the winding chamber 46. In the gear chamber 47, a power-transmitting connection takes place between the crank thread section 40 and the gear section 41 of the winding roller 37. This separation of the bearing housing 44 into the winding chamber 46 and the gear chamber 47 prevents the cables 10, 11 from becoming undesirably entangled in the crank thread section 40 and / or in the gear section 41. The cables 10, 11 are designed as cords.
[0035] The crank 39 of the winding device 9 is designed in multiple parts. The crank rod 38 is designed as a separate component from a crank body 48, which is locked into the crank body 48 in a rotationally fixed manner. A crank handle 49 of the crank 39 is located, for example, in the Fig. 17 actuation position shown, in which the crank 39 can be actuated at a free end of the crank handle 49, and one, for example, in the Fig. The neutral position shown in Figure 18, in which the crank handle 49 rests against the crank body 48 or the bearing housing 44, can be adjusted. This ensures that the crank 39 is not unintentionally actuated in the neutral position.
[0036] The function of the winding device 9 will now be explained using an example of operation. Starting, for example, from the neutral position of the crank 39 after Fig. In position 18, where the crane hooks 12, 13 are also in the transport position, the crank handle 49 is first moved from the neutral position to the operating position. For this purpose, the crank handle 49 is pivoted by approximately 90° relative to the crank body 48 about a joint connection 50 of the crank 39.
[0037] Following this, the crank 39 can be operated. After the crane hooks 12, 13 have been released from the transport eyes 14, 15, the crane hooks can be attached, for example, by turning the crank handle 49 around the crank rod 38 counterclockwise, downwards in the direction of the desired position, for example, to Fig. 13 are lowered. Here, the crank thread section 40 meshes with the gear section 41 of the winding roller 37, and the latter rotates in the Fig.16. To unwind the ropes 10, 11, the crank handle 49 is turned clockwise around the crank rod 38. After actuating the winding device 9, the crank handle 49 can then be folded back from the actuating position to the neutral position.
[0038] The components of the crane structure and, in particular, the components of the entire toy vehicle can be made of plastic. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION
[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature
[0000] DE 10 2010 001 448 A1
[0002] DE 10 2012 201 191 A1
[0002]
Claims
[1] Crane assembly (1) for a toy vehicle (2), - with a crane arm (5), - with a mounting frame (16) on which the crane arm (5) is pivotably mounted about a base joint (17), - with a lifting device (22) for moving a free end of the crane arm (5) between at least one lowered position and at least one raised position, - wherein the lifting device (22) comprises: -- an actuating rotary element (23), -- a movable cam support (27) that can be moved linearly relative to the mounting frame (16) with a first movable cam (29), wherein the movable cam support (27) is operatively connected to the actuating rotary element (23) for moving the movable cam support (27), -- a transmission lever (30), one end of which is designed as a cam end (31) which is guided by means of the movable cam (29), and the other end of which is designed as a joint end (32) which is pivotably mounted on the crane arm (5) about a lever joint (33), -- a frame-fixed cam support (34) with a second frame-fixed cam (35) wherein the cam end (31) of the transmission lever (30) is also guided by means of the frame-fixed cam (35) at least in a section of a total displacement path of the crane arm (5) between the lowered and the raised position, wherein the frame-fixed cam (35) has an ascending cam profile such that the cam end (31) of the transmission lever (30) is itself raised when the crane arm (5) is displaced between the lowered position and the raised position. [2] Crane structure according to claim 1, characterized by, that the actuating rotary element (23) is designed as a rotary wheel. [3] Crane structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the actuating rotary element (23) has a gear section (25) which meshes with a rack section (26) of the movable cam carrier (27). [4] Crane structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the actuating rotary element (23) is designed to be axially displaceable between a retracted neutral position and an extended actuating position. [5] Crane structure according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the frame-fixed backdrop (35) is ineffective in a section of the total displacement path of the crane arm (5) between the lowered and the raised position, which is close to a fully lowered basic position of the crane arm (5). [6] Crane structure according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the movable backdrop (29) is designed as an elongated hole into which the backdrop end (31) engages. [7] Crane structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the frame-fixed backdrop (35) has a linear slope. [8] Crane toy vehicle (2) with a crane superstructure (5) according to one of claims 1 to 7.