TELESCOPIC BOOM GUYING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of guying in telescopic cranes, in particular in mobile cranes.

[0002] Guying systems are used on cranes or telescopic cranes to increase the load-bearing capacity of the boom or its stability or rigidity. In many cases—as in the present invention—the guying system is provided as an integral unit and is also referred to as a "guying frame." It comprises erectable guying supports and a support frame for attachment to the crane boom. Ropes are tensioned to the boom head via the guying supports, which partially absorb the forces acting on the boom and thus provide load relief or improve rigidity. The guying supports are attached via guy links in the area of ​​the boom's rotation axis.

[0003] With larger mobile cranes, the dimensions and weight of the guying unit also increase, so it cannot be pre-assembled to the boom during transport of the crane to the site, as this would violate height and / or weight restrictions. In these cases, the guying unit is transported separately to the site.

[0004] Various approaches are known from the prior art for equipping the guying device on the crane or crane boom, which is then transported separately to the site. For example, EP 1342692 A2 proposes transporting the guying device in two parts and placing these parts individually on the crane undercarriage for setup. However, this approach is comparatively complex, as the individual parts of the guying device must be handled separately. EP 1735233 A1 proposes designing the entire guying device as a single structural unit that can be lifted from the crane at the site as one part by the transport vehicle. To equip the guying device on the boom, it is placed on the ground in an elevated position using a support frame so that the crane boom can be retracted under the guying device and the guying device can be mounted on the boom from above.However, this solution requires a support frame for the guying device, and retracting the boom beneath the guying device represents an additional work step. EP 2248754 A1 therefore proposes placing the guying device as a structural unit directly on the crane undercarriage, allowing the guying device to be mounted on the boom "from below" after the boom has been extended or luffed. Since this solution requires the luffing cylinder(s) to be guided past the guying supports, and the overall width of the guying device cannot exceed a certain value due to the approval regulations for road transport, this solution is subject to strict limitations regarding the geometry of the guying device and the boom, including its luffing mechanism. The publications CN 106044589 A, CN 105293318 B, EP 2248754 A1, and CN 202766156 U disclose further guying devices according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a guying device for a mobile crane telescopic boom which can be easily equipped by the user and yet still meets the geometric requirements for road transport even with larger mobile cranes.

[0006] This object is achieved by the subject matter of patent claims 1 and 12 to 14. The subclaims define preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0007] The telescopic boom guying unit according to the invention accordingly comprises a holding frame designed for attachment to the telescopic boom of the mobile crane, having an open cross-section whose cross-sectional opening enables the boom to be retracted into the holding frame, and two guy supports connected by the holding frame to form a structural unit. Two frame parts forming the open cross-section of the holding frame are movably coupled to one another via a coupling point. Two frame parts forming the open upper section are movably coupled to one another via a coupling point located essentially on the plane of symmetry of the holding frame, such that a movement of the frame parts relative to one another causes a change in the opening width of the open cross-section, and the holding frame has a substantially symmetrical cross-section in every position of the frame parts relative to one another.

[0008] In other words, the support frame, by means of which the guy supports are attached to the boom, has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, so that the boom can be inserted into the guying device by a rocking movement over the opening of the U-shaped support frame and can finally be bolted to the boom. The open cross-section is formed by two frame parts that are movable relative to one another, but still form a structural unit. Thus, the profile cross-section of the support frame can be varied by moving the frame parts relative to one another, so that different profile cross-sections of the support frame can be achieved by different positions of the frame parts relative to one another, which in turn meet different geometric requirements for the guying unit.The support frame can extend essentially in a plane that perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis of the boom retracted into the support frame. The movement of the frame parts relative to each other can also take place in this plane.

[0009] Thus, the movement of the frame sections relative to each other will cause a change in the opening width of the open cross-section. In other words, the frame sections can be moved relative to each other in such a way that the opening available for retracting the boom into the support frame is widened or narrowed. Since the position of the two guy supports is determined by the position of the respective frame sections of the support frame, the width between the guy supports of the guying system as a whole is also influenced.

[0010] On the other hand, the width of the guying unit can also be changed by moving the frame parts relative to each other. The support frame can be designed in such a way that the width of the support frame and thus of the entire guying unit can be varied by moving the frame parts relative to each other.

[0011] For example, the coupling point can couple the respective frame parts of the holding frame to one another in a rotational manner. For example, the frame parts can be connected to one another via a rotary joint, the axis of rotation of which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom retracted into the holding frame. Furthermore, the coupling point can also couple the respective frame parts to one another in a translational manner, so that they can be moved relative to one another, for example via a rail-like guide. It is also conceivable for the coupling point to enable a combined rotational / translational movement of the respective frame parts relative to one another. The coupling point lies essentially on the plane of symmetry of the holding frame, so that the holding frame has an essentially symmetrical cross-section in every position of the frame parts relative to one another.

[0012] In order to effect a movement of the frame parts relative to one another, the guying unit can have at least one electrically, mechanically or hydraulically driven actuator, by means of which the frame parts of the holding frame are moved relative to one another, in particular rotated relative to one another and / or displaced relative to one another. For example, frame parts coupled to one another in a translational manner can be displaced relative to one another via a hydraulic cylinder, a rack and pinion drive, an electric or hydraulic motor or similar in order to vary the opening width of the open frame cross-section and / or to change the overall width of the holding frame or the guying unit. It is also conceivable that a rotational movement of the frame parts relative to one another is effected by means of a hydraulic cylinder or an electric or hydraulic motor arranged in the region of the rotation axis.It is also possible for the frame parts to be moved towards each other by an "external" drive, such as a drive on the crane undercarriage or on the transport unit / low loader.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the guying unit according to the invention, the holding frame can also be designed such that the opening of the open cross-section expands automatically as soon as it is lifted by the crane. This automatic expansion can also occur when the guying unit is in a lowered rest position, in particular when it is placed on the crane undercarriage for rigging. The tendency of the guying unit to expand as soon as it is attached to the crane's load hook or placed on the crane undercarriage can be achieved by a suitable selection of the frame geometry and the position of the respective centers of gravity of the frame parts and their supports.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame cross-section can be transferred from an expanded position back to a position adjacent to the boom cross-section by retracting the boom into the support frame using a rocking motion. As soon as the boom presses on the swivel joint, for example, the frame parts automatically engage the boom profile when the boom is retracted, allowing the guying unit to be bolted to the boom in a subsequent step.

[0015] In principle, it is conceivable that the guying unit according to the invention is mounted "from above" on the boom with a variable support frame profile. However, as will be shown later, the present invention also enables setup "from below," by retracting the boom into the support frame by lowering or luffing the boom. While in the first case, a support frame is necessary to lower the guying unit into an elevated position so that the boom can be moved under the guying unit for setup, in the second case, the guying unit can be placed directly on the crane undercarriage, for example.

[0016] To position the guying unit on the crane undercarriage in a defined setup position, the guying unit can be equipped with defined supports, which then act as a kind of positioning aid. Furthermore, by appropriately positioning these supports, the support frame or guying unit can be ensured to open or expand automatically under its own weight when in a lowered, resting position.

[0017] Although the previous examples always assumed that the guying unit is dismantled for road transport, it is nevertheless conceivable that it could be placed on the crane undercarriage or even remain bolted to the boom of the mobile crane during transport, provided that the regulations for road transport are observed in these cases.

[0018] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a guying unit transport system which, in addition to the guying unit described here, also comprises a transport vehicle designed to transport this guying unit.

[0019] While the guying unit can be designed to expand automatically, particularly when placed on the crane undercarriage in a resting position, it can, in conjunction with the designated transport vehicle, similarly strive to reduce its overall width when placed on the transport vehicle. This not only ensures that the maximum permitted width for road transport is not exceeded, but also allows the use of the narrowest possible transport vehicle.

[0020] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a telescopic crane, in particular a mobile crane, having an upper carriage rotatably arranged on an undercarriage with a telescopic boom comprising several telescopic sections, and a guying unit as described here.

[0021] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a setup method for the telescopic boom guying unit according to the invention, according to which a guying unit transported separately from the mobile crane is lifted by the transport vehicle and placed on the undercarriage of the mobile crane, whereupon the boom is retracted into the holding frame by a rocking movement and bolted to it.

[0022] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment and the accompanying drawings. It may include all features described herein individually or in any meaningful combination. The drawings show: Figure 1: A guying device placed on a transport vehicle; Figure 2: A guying device attached to the crane load hook; Figure 3: Crane with a guying device placed on the crane undercarriage; Figure 4: Guying device in a waiting rest position on the crane undercarriage; Figure 5: A boom retracted into the support frame; Figure 6: A guying device bolted to the boom; Figure 7: A first embodiment of the guying device in a transport position; Figure 8: Guying device made of Figure 7 in an expanded rest position; Figure 9: Guying device made of Figure 7 in a normal position corresponding to the boom profile; Figure 10A second embodiment of the guying device in a transport position; Figure 11:Guying device made of Figure 10 in an expanded rest position; Figure 12: Guying device made of Figure 10 in a normal position corresponding to the boom profile.

[0023] The Figure 1 shows a guying unit 9 according to the present invention, transported separately from the rest of the mobile crane on a low-loader 8. The guying unit 9 occupies a position on the low-loader 8 in which it has a smaller overall width than when bolted to the boom 3 or even placed on the crane undercarriage 1. Figure 7 illustrates how the smaller overall width of the guying unit 9 can be achieved, namely by rotating the two frame parts 101 and 102 around the swivel joint 19, so that the latter occupies a lower position relative to the frame parts 101 and 102 than in a normal position.

[0024] The Figure 2shows a perspective view of the guying unit 9 according to the invention, which essentially consists of two symmetrically arranged guy supports 11 and the associated holding frame 10. The holding frame 10 is divided into two frame parts 101 and 102, which can be rotated relative to each other about the central pivot joint 19. In the Figure 2In the state shown of the guying unit 9, it is suspended from a crane hook 30 by means of the lifting means 21. The lifting means or ropes 21 engage in the area of ​​the swivel joint 19 and the support supports 17, so that the guying device 9 expands automatically due to its own weight, and the frame parts 101 and 102 are rotated around the swivel joint 19 in such a way that the latter comes to lie in a higher position relative to the frame parts 101 and 102 than in a normal position of the holding frame 10. The guying supports themselves are designed in a manner already known. In particular, they each have a winch 16 for the boom guying and are erected in the boom luffing plane by means of the erection cylinders 12 and are also retrieved again after use, while they can be moved out of the boom luffing plane and back into it by means of the respective swivel blocks 13 and swivel cylinders 14.Thus, the guy supports 11 can assume a so-called V or Y position, whereby the boom guying can also absorb lateral loads, such as wind loads on the crane boom 3.

[0025] The Figure 3 shows the next step in setting up the guying device 9 according to the invention, in which it is placed in the front area of ​​the crane undercarriage 1. It is clear that the positioning of the guying unit 9 on the crane undercarriage 1 can be carried out independently by the mobile crane, so that no separate lifting gear is required.

[0026] The Figure 4shows the guying unit 9 fully positioned on the crane undercarriage 1, whereby it should be noted that the supports 17 and 18 of the guying unit 9 are positioned in defined areas of the crane undercarriage 1 in order to bolt the guying unit 9 to the boom 3 as soon as the latter has been retracted into the support frame 10 or its frame parts 101 and 102. In the embodiment shown, the support frame 10 is bolted to the collar 6 of the base body 4. For this purpose, the boom 3 must be lowered (tilted down or out) into a substantially horizontal position so that the collar 6 retracts into the support frame 10 and comes to rest therein. An essential aspect of the present invention is the Figure 4 also be taken from: as in the previous Figures 1 to 3As can be seen, the guy supports 11 of the guying device 9, which is separate from the rest of the mobile crane, are aligned parallel to one another. In the case of a rigid support frame 10 with an unchangeable profile and an open cross-section, the space available between the guy supports 11 is therefore directly dependent on the distance between the upper ends of the U-shaped support frame. If more space were required to extend and retract the boom 3 from the support frame 10, this was previously only possible by increasing the overall width of the support frame 10. However, this, as well as the entire guying device 9 itself, must not exceed a given maximum width when transported separately from the mobile crane on a low-loader 8.For large mobile cranes with correspondingly large boom cross-sections, as well as for cranes with double luffing cylinders extending beyond the lateral width of the boom 3, it has been virtually impossible to implement a guying unit 9 that can be fitted "from below" on the boom 3. As the . Figure 4 can be removed, the widening of the holding frame 10 and thus also of the entire guying unit 9 also enables the luffing cylinders arranged on both sides of the boom 3 to be guided past the guying supports 11 without any problems.

[0027] As soon as the luffing cylinders have passed the guy supports 11 and the boom 3 or the collar 6 of the outermost telescopic section 4 has been inserted into the support frame 10, the guy supports 10 can be moved back to the boom 3 by the frame parts 101 and 102 being positioned against the boom or the collar 6. In the example shown, this is achieved by the collar 6 running onto the pivot joint 19 located centrally below and pressing it downward. The supports 18 located on both sides of the holding frame 10 and supporting it roll on the crane undercarriage 1 and thus enable rotation of the respective frame parts 101 and 102 resting on the crane undercarriage 1. The same applies to the supports 17 below the guy supports 11, whereby in the example shown the supports 18 on the crane undercarriage 1 additionally take on the function of guiding the holding frame 10 when it is attached to the boom 3 on the crane undercarriage 1.For this purpose, a rail-like guide structure 20 (. Figure 4) is provided, which allows the supports 18 to roll, but prevents them from moving in the longitudinal direction of the crane. For example, this can be achieved by one or more grooves and / or rails transverse to the longitudinal direction of the crane, in which the supports 18 are held by the dead weight of the guying device 9, even if they roll on the crane superstructure 1. In the case of frame parts 101 and 102 that can be moved translationally relative to one another, the guide structure 20 can be adapted to the translational rather than rotational movement. In general, the guide structure 20 can allow movement of the frame parts 101 and 102 or their supports 18 during setup, but prevent movement in the longitudinal direction of the crane. Such a guide structure can also be provided for the rear supports 17.Since, in the embodiment shown, these rest essentially at the same point on the crane undercarriage 1 during rolling, the guide structure there can take the form of an indentation or recess on the crane superstructure 1, which prevents the respective supports 17 from translational movement in any horizontal direction. Should such translational movement be desired, for example, in the transverse direction of the crane, the guide structure for the rear supports 17 can of course also have rails or grooves, as already described for the front guide structure 20.

[0028] The Figure 6 shows the holding frame 10 of the guying unit 9 according to the invention in a state applied to the boom 3, in which the holding frame 10 can be bolted to the collar 6 of the outermost telescopic section 4 by activating the locking cylinders 15.

[0029] The Figures 7 to 9The cross sections of the different positions of the frame parts 101 and 102 to each other once again illustrate the advantages of the present invention: The Figure 9 shows a normal position of the frame parts 101 and 102 relative to each other, in which the holding frame 10 rests against the outer circumference of the boom 3 or the collar 6 and can be bolted to it. In this position, the extension and retraction of the boom 3 into and out of the holding frame 10 is not possible, since the available opening width D6 is not sufficient for this. Furthermore, it is possible that the Figure 9 The overall width D3 shown here exceeds a permissible maximum value for road transport.

[0030] The present invention overcomes both problems by pivoting the frame parts 101 and 102 relative to one another via the central pivot joint 19. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to widen the opening width of the holding frame 10, which is relevant for retraction and extension, to a greater distance D5. The overall width D2, which is also increased compared to the overall width D3 in the normal position, is irrelevant here, since this position is only assumed at the site of use when the mobile crane is being set up. For road transport, the frame parts 101 and 102 of the embodiment shown are pivoted relative to one another in the opposite direction, so that the overall width D1 of the guying device 9 assumes a value that is permissible for road traffic and smaller than the overall width D3 in the normal position. The opening width D4, which is reduced compared to the normal position, is again irrelevant in the transport state.

[0031] The Figures 10 to 12show an embodiment of the guying device 9 according to the invention, in which the frame parts 101 and 102 are not as in the Figures 7 to 9 The illustrated embodiment does not move rotationally relative to each other, but rather translationally. This translational movement in the horizontal direction is effected by an actuator 21, which is Figure 12 shown schematically as a hydraulic cylinder, but may also include a rack and pinion drive or similar means suitable for translational movement. While the Figure 10 a transport position with reduced widths D1 and D4 (according to the Figure 7 shown rotational position), the Figure 11 a setup position with extended widths D2 and D5 (according to the Figure 8 shown rotational position) and the Figure 12 a working position of the frame parts 101 and 102 (according to the Figure 9shown rotational position), whereby the frame parts 101 and 102 can be bolted to the crane boom 3 in the latter position.

Claims

1. Telescopic boom bracing unit (9) for a mobile crane, having - a holding frame (10) designed for fixing on the telescopic boom of the mobile crane with an open cross-section, the cross-sectional opening of which enables the retraction of the boom (3) into the holding frame (10); and - two bracing supports (11) connected by the holding frame (10) to form an assembly; characterised in that two frame parts (101, 102) forming the open cross-section of the holding frame (10) are coupled to each other in a moveable manner in relation to each other via a coupling point (19) lying substantially on the plane of symmetry of the holding frame (10) in such a way that a movement of the frame parts (101, 102) in relation to each other causes a change of the opening width (D4-D6) of the open cross-section, and the holding frame (10) has a substantially symmetrical cross-section in each position of the frame parts (101; 102) in relation to each other.

2. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to claim 1, wherein the frame parts (101, 102) are coupled to each other in such a way that a movement of the frame parts (101, 102) in relation to each other causes a change of the construction width (D1-D3) of the bracing unit (9).

3. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the frame parts (101, 102) are rotationally coupled to each other via the coupling point (19), in particular by means of a rotary joint (19), the axis of rotation of which runs specifically in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom (3).

4. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame parts (101, 102) are translationally coupled to each other via the coupling point (19), in particular by means of a rail-like guide.

5. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the movement of the frame parts (101, 102) is supported, in particular caused, by means of an actuator, specifically by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder.

6. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the holding frame (10) is designed in such a way that the opening (D4-D6) of the open cross-section automatically widens in a suspended state and / or in a rest position on the crane undercarriage (1), in particular.

7. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the holding frame (10) is designed in such a way that the frame parts (101, 102) are automatically placed against the boom (3) when the boom (3) retracts into the holding frame (10).

8. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holding frame (10) has a cross-section opening upwards, which enables the bracing unit (9) to be equipped by rocking the boom (3) down and out.

9. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bracing unit (9) is designed in such a way as to be placed on the undercarriage (1) of a mobile crane for equipping, in particular by the mobile crane itself.

10. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bracing unit (9) has defined bearings (17, 18), via which it can be placed on an undercarriage (1) of a mobile crane and / or on a goods vehicle (8).

11. Telescopic boom bracing unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bracing unit (9) is designed in such a way as to remain placed on the undercarriage (1) of the mobile crane and / or to remain bolted to the boom (3) of the mobile crane during transport.

12. Bracing unit transport system, having - a telescopic bracing unit (9) according to one of claims 1 to 11, and - a goods vehicle (8) designed to transport the bracing unit, in particular wherein the bracing unit (9) and / or the goods vehicle (8) is / are designed in such a way that the construction width (D1-D3) of the bracing unit (9) placed on the goods vehicle (8) is automatically reduced.

13. Telescopic crane, in particular mobile crane, having - an undercarriage (1) and a superstructure (2) rotatably arranged thereon, on which a rockable boom (3) is arranged, which has an outer base part (4) and one or more boom telescopic parts (5), and - a telescopic boom bracing unit (9) according to one of claims 1 to 11.

14. Method for equipping a telescopic boom bracing unit (9) on a mobile crane, by - providing a telescopic boom bracing unit (9) that can be transported separately to the mobile crane according to one of claims 1 to 11; - placing the bracing unit (9) on the undercarriage (10 of the mobile crane, in particular by means of the mobile crane itself; - positioning the bracing unit (9) on the boom (3) by means of a rocking movement of the boom (3); - bolting the bracing unit (9) to the boom (3).