LIFTING EQUIPMENT LIKE CRANE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting device, in particular in the form of a crane, with a high-strength fiber rope to which a load-carrying and / or holding means is attached.

[0002] For example, DE 10 2007 042 680 A1 discloses a helicopter rescue winch that uses a high-strength fiber rope. The rope is provided with an electrically conductive insert to compensate for the different electrical potential between the helicopter and the ground. Furthermore, JP 2004 315 170 A discloses a mobile crane with a capacitive plate arrangement installed on its undercarriage to influence the crane's resonance frequency and reduce electrostatic charging, thus avoiding separate discharge cables on the load hook.

[0003] For some time now, attempts have been made in lifting technology, and particularly in cranes, to replace conventional, heavy steel ropes with high-strength fiber ropes made of, or at least containing, high-strength synthetic fibers such as aramid fibers, aramid / carbon fiber blends, high-modulus polyethylene fibers (HMPE), LCP, or PBO fibers. The weight savings of up to 80% compared to steel ropes, with almost the same breaking strength, mean that the load-bearing capacity or permissible lifting load can be increased, as the dead weight of the rope, which must be taken into account for the load-bearing capacity, is significantly lower. Particularly in cranes with great lifting heights or in boom or mast hoist systems with pulleys with a high number of reevings, considerable rope lengths and thus corresponding rope weights are required, so the weight reduction possible with high-strength fiber ropes is very advantageous.

[0004] However, when using such high-strength fiber ropes, there is the problem that the load hook or a tool attached to the rope can become electrostatically charged, especially in warm and dry conditions. This means that the load hook slinger or tool operator can receive an electric shock if the slinger or machine operator touches the load hook, tool, or attachment, because the slinger is at the "earth" potential and the load hook or tool has become electrostatically charged compared to this potential due to rope friction in pulleys and bearings.

[0005] Such static charges arise when different materials rub against plastics, as occurs, for example, when pulling a synthetic sweater over your head or walking on a synthetic carpet. The human body or other conductive objects, such as metal parts, become charged to a corresponding potential, which can lead to a discharge or sparking when they come into contact with oppositely charged potentials. Depending on the potential and stored energy, this discharge can also lead to harmful currents in the human body.

[0006] When using conventional steel ropes, such electrostatic charges generally do not occur, or such charges can be dissipated into the crane structure or its steel construction via the steel rope and deflection pulleys and / or attachment points used to deflect or attach the rope to the boom or tower, for example. Regarding the charging of crane ropes and their dissipation, it is known that, when working on overhead lines, the steel structure of the crane should be connected to the grounded railway or tram tracks or another grounding potential via an earthing cable if the crane is operating in the vicinity of overhead lines or power lines and there is a risk of the crane hoist rope touching the overhead line.

[0007] However, when using high-strength fiber ropes, such self-discharge into the crane structure does not occur, so there is a risk of electric shock when handling the load hook or touching an object attached to the fiber rope.

[0008] Based on this, the present invention is based on the object of creating an improved lifting device of the aforementioned type that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and advantageously develops them further. In particular, reliable protection against electric shocks is to be achieved and the problem of electrostatic charging of the load-carrying and / or holding devices attached to the high-strength fiber rope is to be mitigated.

[0009] According to the invention, the above object is achieved by a lifting device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0010] It is therefore proposed to connect an electrical discharge device to the fiber rope, which can discharge electrostatic charges from the fiber rope and / or the load-carrying and / or holding device attached to it. This allows a load-carrying and / or holding device attached to the fiber rope, such as a load hook, to be touched in the usual way by a slinger or another person standing on the ground without receiving an electric shock.

[0011] The unloading device is advantageously designed to interact with the running or moving rope to enable unloading even during hoist operation. In particular, the unloading device can be in sliding contact and / or rolling engagement with the rope, so that the rope can move past the unloading device and still unload as it passes.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, said discharge device comprises a charge arrester that contacts the rope surface to dissipate charges on the fiber rope. Said charge arrester is connected to the steel structure or supporting structure of the hoist or to another grounding potential in order to dissipate the charge picked up from the surface of the fiber rope into the hoist structure or said grounding potential.

[0013] The said charge conductor may comprise at least one rope contact element which may be adapted to the rope surface and / or cross-section in order to have a sufficient contact surface with the rope via which the charge can be transported away.

[0014] The contact element mentioned can be in sliding engagement with the fiber rope or form a sliding contact with the rope, so that a relative movement can occur between the rope and the charge arrester.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, the contact element of the charge arrester can also be in rolling engagement with the fiber rope in order to be able to roll on the passing fiber rope, which also creates a sufficient contact surface for discharging the charge.

[0016] Depending on the design of the hoist and the installation situation of the fiber rope, the charge arrester can also be in contact with the fiber rope in other ways. For example, if the fiber rope is installed in a boom and / or mast adjustment system and attached to the boom and / or mast, the charge arrester can also be rigidly or immovably attached to the fiber rope, for example, tightly gripping the fiber rope like a cuff.

[0017] In particular, the aforementioned charge diverter can comprise a deflection pulley over which the fiber rope runs or is deflected. Such a deflection pulley can be made of steel or a conductive metal alloy and can be electrically connected to the hoist support structure, for example, by a metallic pivot bearing or other current-transmitting device, in order to dissipate electrostatic charges into the hoist structure.

[0018] Independently of such a deflection pulley, a pure contact pulley can also be provided as a contact element, which does not actually deflect the rope but only rolls it on the rope.

[0019] Alternatively or in addition to such contact rollers, a contact brush, a contact carriage or another sliding or sliding contact may also be provided.

[0020] To reduce or completely eliminate the static charge on the rope, the discharge device can include a wetting device for wetting the surface of the fiber rope with an electrically conductive medium. Wetting the rope surface with an electrically conductive medium can overcome the insulating properties of the fiber rope or mitigate its conductivity weakness, allowing electrostatic charges to be conducted to the charge arrester via the applied medium. At the same time, the frictional contact with pulleys, guide clips, and the like is altered to such an extent that the fiber rope no longer charges in the usual way. Sufficient moisture prevents or reduces the charging of the rope, making a separate charge arrester unnecessary.

[0021] The aforementioned wetting device can advantageously have a medium reservoir in which the electrically conductive medium to be applied to the rope can be stored. Such a reservoir can, for example, be a canister or a foil bag, or even a storage cylinder in which a supply of medium can be stored.

[0022] The medium reservoir can be located near the application location where the medium is applied to the fiber rope, in order to ensure short conveying and application distances. For example, if the medium is to be applied to the load-carrying and / or holding device, the storage container can be attached to the load-carrying and / or holding device, such as a load hook.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, a medium storage device can also be attached to a boom or a hoist structural part from which the fiber rope runs or to which the fiber rope is attached, which can be, for example, a luffing boom or adjustable mast of the hoist.

[0024] Advantageously, the medium reservoir can be positioned above the discharge point in order to transport the medium to the discharge point by gravity or to at least support the conveyance of the medium to the discharge point by gravity.

[0025] Alternatively or additionally, a medium reservoir can be provided at the same level as or below the application location. In this case, a pump can be provided to transport the medium from the reservoir to the application location.

[0026] In order to be able to apply the medium specifically to the surface of the fiber rope, the wetting device can have one or more application elements, which can have a discharge opening directed towards the rope.

[0027] Depending on the medium used, especially its viscosity, different application elements can be provided. For example, if a fluid such as oil or water is to be used to wet the rope, a spray and / or jet nozzle can be provided as the application element, directing a spray-like cloud and / or jet onto the rope.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, a dripper can be provided as the dispensing element for dripping or sprinkling the rope, wherein said dripper can be arranged above, in particular vertically above, the rope in order to allow droplets to fall onto the rope. Such a dripper can preferably be arranged in the immediate vicinity of the rope in order to prevent the droplets from being blown away, for example in strong winds. Such a dripper can comprise a drop generator which generates droplets of a suitable size which can then drip onto the rope. For example, a drop generator can be provided which is similar to that known from infusion sets in medical technology. Independently of this, the drop generator can be designed to be adjustable in order to generate droplets of different sizes and / or at different intervals.

[0029] Alternatively or in addition to a contactless application element, the wetting device can also have a contact-applying application element, for example in the form of a brush-like coating element that spreads the medium onto the surface of the fiber rope.

[0030] Advantageously, such a brush-like spreader can be supplied with medium via a supply channel or a supply line from the medium reservoir, which medium can, for example, run into the brush bristles to be distributed by them on the rope.

[0031] Alternatively or additionally, the wetting device can also comprise an immersion bath or an immersion bath-like element, such as a tub or a mist chamber, through which the fiber rope to be wetted can pass. For example, a tub-shaped immersion bath container can be arranged in the area of ​​a rope pulley and / or a rope pulley, in which the medium level is sufficiently high for the rope to pass through the medium bath.

[0032] In a spray chamber, the medium can be atomized into a spray mist. The spray mist remains trapped in a preferably closed chamber to prevent too much mist from flowing past the rope. If necessary, a tray open at the top or bottom can also be used to capture the spray mist to such an extent that it cannot escape uncontrollably. The rope can pass through such a chamber, for example, by providing an opening on opposite walls through which the rope can pass.

[0033] The rope does not necessarily have to pass through such an immersion bath or a dip-bath-like dispensing device. If necessary, a standing section of rope can also be immersed in the immersion bath and / or remain and / or be arranged in the dip-bath-like dispensing element. Distribution of the medium can nevertheless be achieved, for example, through the capillary effect within the rope, which essentially absorbs the medium.

[0034] Distribution of the medium over the rope or within the rope through the capillary effect can also be provided in conjunction with another application method. For example, a section of the rope can be dripped continuously or repeatedly, with the liquid dripped onto the rope then being distributed through the rope or rope sheath by capillary action.

[0035] The application element(s) can be arranged at various locations on the hoist to apply the electrically conductive medium to the fiber rope. For example, an application element can be provided on the load-carrying and / or holding means to wet a respective rope section located on the load-carrying and / or holding means.

[0036] Alternatively or additionally, a dispensing element can be attached to a cable pulley.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, a deployment element can also be attached to a hoist structural component to wet a free section of rope. For example, a deployment element can be attached to a boom to wet a section of rope extending along and / or passing by the boom.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, a dispensing element can also be attached to a cable drum or arranged adjacent to it in order to wet a section of cable located on the cable drum, for example, a cable winding looped around the cable drum. In particular, a section of cable running from or onto the cable drum can be wetted by a suitably mounted dispensing element.

[0039] Advantageously, the at least one dispensing element is arranged directly on or near the medium reservoir so that it can be supplied with medium via a short connecting line or a short conveying channel. Depending on the space available on the respective lifting device, the dispensing element can also be arranged at a distance from the medium reservoir, in which case a conveying or pumping device can be provided if necessary to convey the medium from the medium reservoir to the dispensing element and / or to ensure sufficient pressure at the dispensing element.

[0040] Advantageously, a conveying and / or pumping device for conveying and / or pumping the electrically conductive medium can be coupled to a drive movement of the rope in order to derive a conveying effect from the rope movement and / or to coordinate the conveying effect with the rope movement.

[0041] For example, the conveying and / or pumping device can be coupled to a deflection pulley, so that a rotational movement of the deflection pulley generates a drive movement of the conveying and / or pumping device. For example, a pump can be coupled to a deflection pulley on the load hook or the load-handling and / or holding device in order to provide a conveying effect when the load-handling device is lowered or raised.

[0042] The medium used to increase electrical conductivity can be liquid, pasty, or creamy. Liquid media can be water, oil, or light emulsions. Pasty or creamy media can be fat, cream, or a toothpaste-like medium, for example.

[0043] Regardless of the pastiness and / or viscosity, it is advantageous to use a medium that adheres well to fiber ropes.

[0044] Advantageously, the wetting device can comprise an adjustable dosing device in order to be able to dose the amount of medium to be applied.

[0045] Such a dosing device may, for example, comprise an adjustable valve that can open and close and / or enlarge or reduce the discharge opening of the discharge element or the front cross-section of the conveying line, wherein the valve can, for example, be opened and closed intermittently in order to discharge a targeted amount per opening cycle.

[0046] For gravity-driven dispensing of the medium, an adjustable hose valve, such as those used in medical dosing equipment, can be used. Alternatively or additionally, a tap-like valve can be provided in the delivery line.

[0047] Alternatively or in addition to such a metering valve, the metering device can also be part of the aforementioned delivery device, for example in the form of a pump, in order to control the actively delivered application rate and thus the dose of the medium to be dispensed. For example, a reciprocating piston pump can be used as the metering device, which dispenses a specific amount per stroke. Alternatively or additionally, a pressure cylinder, which can also serve as a medium reservoir, can comprise an adjustable piston, the displacement of which by a specific distance dispenses a predetermined dose.

[0048] Advantageously, said dosing device 18 can be driven and / or actuated by a motor. For example, an electromagnetic actuator can be provided, for example, for opening and closing a dosing valve, and / or an electric motor for opening and closing a tap valve, and / or a rack and pinion drive and / or a hydraulic motor for actuating said dosing cylinder. However, the dosing device can also be coupled to a hoist cable movement, in particular a pulley or cable drum, in order to derive the dosing from the cable movement.

[0049] A control device, which may be electronic and / or comprise a microprocessor and possibly a program memory, can control the wetting device and / or the dosing device depending on various operating and / or environmental parameters.

[0050] For example, the control device mentioned can actuate the wetting device in dependence on a cable movement, wherein, for example, a cable speed and / or a covered cable adjustment path can be taken into account for the control of the dosing device, for example in such a way that at higher cable speeds and / or distances a larger quantity of medium is applied than at lower cable speeds and / or distances.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, the control device can activate or control the wetting device or the dosing device depending on the ambient humidity and / or the ambient temperature. For example, in the event of rain or even very high ambient humidity, the wetting device can be shut down and / or the amount of medium to be applied can be reduced. As the weather becomes increasingly dry and / or the ambient humidity decreases, the wetting device can be activated and / or the amount of medium to be applied can be increased.

[0052] The control device can be designed to take into account a weather signal, for example in the form of a rain signal and / or a humidity signal, which can be provided, for example, by a weather station and / or a rain sensor and / or a humidity sensor.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the control device can also actuate or control the wetting device or the dosing device depending on the ambient temperature and / or the cable temperature. Since static charging occurs more easily or more strongly with increasing temperatures, the control device can be configured to shut down the wetting device at low temperatures, for example, freezing temperatures, and / or reduce the dosing quantity, and / or conversely, to actuate the actuating device and / or increase the dosing quantity as temperatures increase.

[0054] For this purpose, the control device can process a temperature signal which can be provided by a weather station and / or a temperature sensor, wherein said temperature sensor can measure the ambient temperature and / or the rope temperature.

[0055] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the electrical conductivity of the fiber rope can also be increased by providing an electrically conductive, in particular metallic, wire and / or wire mesh and / or braid and / or a bundle of wires or strands on and / or in the sheath of the fiber rope, wherein the electrical conductor(s) can advantageously be woven and / or wrapped into the sheath of the fiber rope, which can otherwise be formed from plastic fibers, so that the conductor(s) form an integral part of the sheath or sheath layer of the fiber rope.

[0056] In particular, the at least one electrical conductor can be provided on the sheath layer in such a way that the conductor is exposed on the outer circumference or on the outer circumference of the fiber cable and can contact a previously described contact element of a charge arrester. The at least one electrical conductor can form part of the outer circumferential surface of the fiber cable in order to be able to contact the contact element of the charge arrester.

[0057] For example, a metallic braid or individual wires can be woven into the fiber rope on the outer surface of the fiber rope or on the sheath of the fiber rope in order to contact metallic rope pulleys and / or a sliding contact, for example in the form of a contact brush, and thereby dissipate electrostatic charge from the fiber rope.

[0058] In order to specifically protect the load-bearing and / or holding device attached to the fiber rope from electrostatic charging, a direct electrically conductive connection of the load-bearing and / or holding device to the supporting structure of the hoist, for example the steel structure of the crane, can also be provided past the fiber rope. For example, an electrically conductive, preferably flexible and / or elastically flexible connecting line can be provided between the load-bearing and / or holding device on the one hand and a hoist structural part in the area of ​​the discharge point and / or pivot point of the fiber rope on the hoist structure. The said connecting line is connected on the one hand to the load-bearing and / or holding device and on the other hand to the said hoist structural part and forms, so to speak, a parallel path to the fiber rope.

[0059] For example, if the fiber rope runs off a trolley that is mounted on the boom of a crane, a connecting cable drum or other cable storage device can be attached to the said trolley, from which the connecting cable can run off in order to provide the appropriate length of the connecting cable, depending on the lifting height of the load hook, in order to bridge the distance between the load hook and the boom.

[0060] On the other hand, if the fiber rope runs from the boom tip of a luffing jib crane, the connecting cable storage unit, from which the electrically conductive connecting cable can run, can be attached to the said boom tip.

[0061] Advantageously, the connecting cable storage device can be designed to be elastically removable, for example in the form of a spring-loaded pull-off drum, from which the connecting cable is pulled when the load hook is lowered and from which the connecting cable is automatically wound up or retracted when the load hook is raised.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, a drive device for actively retrieving and / or lowering the connecting line can also be assigned to the connecting line storage device, wherein a control device for controlling the drive device is advantageously provided, which can control the drive device in dependence on a movement of the fiber rope, in particular can lower and / or retrieve the drive device synchronously with a lowering and / or raising of the load-carrying and / or holding means.

[0063] Alternatively, or in addition to an electrically conductive connection of the load hook to the hoist support structure and / or another earthing potential component, the load-carrying and / or holding device can also be protected from unwanted electrostatic charging from the fiber rope by electrically insulating the load hook or the load-carrying and / or holding device from the fiber rope. Such electrical insulation between the fiber rope and the load-carrying and / or holding device can be integrated, in particular, into the rope deflection device and / or its bearing.

[0064] In particular, a cable pulley bearing and / or spacers between the cable pulley bearing and the load-bearing and / or holding means can be made of an electrically insulating material, for example, in the form of ceramic. The cable pulley bearing can be designed as a solid ceramic component and / or provided with a ceramic coating. The same applies to the aforementioned spacers, which can also be designed as solid ceramic components or provided with a ceramic coating.

[0065] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1: a side view of a lifting device in the form of a tower crane, the load-carrying and / or holding means of which is in the form of a load hook attached to a hoist rope which runs from a trolley movable on the boom of the crane, Fig. 2: a perspective view of a wetting device for wetting the hoist rope of the crane from the previous figure in the area of ​​the load hook, showing a medium reservoir and a dispensing element directed towards the fibre rope or its deflection pulley, Fig. 3: a perspective view of a wetting device comprising a medium reservoir and a dispensing element for wetting the fibre rope on a rope deflection pulley, Fig. 4: a perspective view of a wetting device with a medium reservoir and a dispensing element for wetting a free-running piece of rope, Fig.5: a perspective view of a wetting device with a medium reservoir and a dispensing element for wetting a piece of rope in the run-off area of ​​a cable winch, Fig. 6: a side view of a charge arrester comprising a rope deflection roller which is electrically conductively connected to the boom of the crane. Fig. 1 is mounted, in an exploded view, Fig. 7: a side view of a charge arrester comprising a sliding contact, which is connected on the one hand to the rope and on the other hand to the boom of the crane from Figure 1in contact, in an exploded view, Fig. 8: a side view of a wetting device with a dip bath for the rope, Fig. 9: a front view of a deflection pulley for the fiber rope, which is electrically insulated by a ceramic bearing and ceramic spacers, Fig. 10: a partial side view of a boom of a tower crane, on whose trolley a cable drum with an electrical connecting cable for electrically connecting the load hook to the boom is provided, and Fig. 11: a plan view of the outer sheath of a fiber rope, into which metallic wires are woven.

[0066] How Figure 1 shows, the lifting device 1 can be designed as a crane, for example in the form of a tower crane, which comprises a boom 3 sitting on a tower 2, wherein the tower 2 together with the boom 3 or the boom 3 can be rotated relative to the tower 2 about an upright axis 4.

[0067] A trolley 5 can be moved on the boom 3, from which a load-carrying and / or holding means 7, for example in the form of a load hook, can be lowered and raised.

[0068] For this purpose, the load-carrying and / or holding means 7 is attached to a hoist rope 6, which can be designed as a high-strength fiber rope made of plastic fibers, as described above.

[0069] Alternatively to the Figure 1In addition to the tower crane shown, the lifting device can also be another crane, for example in the form of a mobile crane, a telescopic boom crane, a luffing jib crane, or even a harbor crane or a ship crane. However, the lifting device mentioned is not limited to cranes, but can also be other conveying and / or construction machinery, such as cable excavators or freight or passenger lifts, or other passenger and / or freight conveyors, such as a cable car or a chairlift.

[0070] The fiber rope does not have to be used as a hoist rope, but can also be used to guy and / or adjust a boom or mast, or as a revolving, reciprocating conveyor.

[0071] In particular, it is a moving, particularly driven, rope that can become statically charged due to friction as a result of its movement or would become so if no countermeasures were taken.

[0072] To prevent such charging of the rope 6 and in particular also of the load-handling and / or holding means 7 attached thereto, a discharge device 8 is provided, which discharges electrical charge from the rope 6 and / or the load-handling and / or holding means 7 into the supporting structure of the hoist or another grounding potential element. In particular, the discharge device 8 can electrically connect the rope 6 and / or the load-handling and / or holding means 7 to the steel structure of the crane 1, preferably its boom 3 and / or its tower 2 and / or its superstructure and / or undercarriage.

[0073] As the Figures 6 and 7show, the detection device 8 can comprise a charge conductor 9 which has at least one contact element 10 for electrically conductive contact with the moving cable 6.

[0074] Such a contact element 10 can be in electrically conductive rolling engagement with the cable 6, as Figure 6 shows, and / or are in electrically conductive sliding engagement with the cable 6, as Figure 7 shows.

[0075] In particular, the contact element 10 can comprise a cable deflection pulley over which the cable 6 runs and is deflected. If necessary, a pure contact pulley without a cable deflection effect could also be provided.

[0076] The aforementioned rope deflection pulley is electrically conductive, for example, made of a metal alloy, and is mounted on the hoist structure in an electrically conductive manner. Advantageously, the pivot bearing of the rope pulley can be electrically conductive, for example, by means of a metallic pulley axle and, if necessary, interposed metallic rolling elements.

[0077] How Figure 7 As shown, the charge diverter 9 or its contact element 10 can also comprise a sliding contact carriage, for example in the form of a contact brush, which is / are electrically conductive and makes electrical contact with the cable 6. The sliding contact is electrically conductively connected to the crane boom 3 or another hoist structural part in order to divert the charge introduced by the cable 6 into the steel structure of the hoist.

[0078] In order to make the rope 6, which is designed as a fiber rope made of plastic fibers, electrically conductive or to be able to bring it into electrically conductive contact with the aforementioned charge conductor 9, the aforementioned rope 6 can be provided on its outer sheath with at least one electrically conductive wire 6l and / or a wire mesh and / or a wire structure, wherein, for example, individual wires 6l or a metallic mesh can be woven and / or wrapped into the outer sheath of the rope 6, cf. Fig. 11 .

[0079] The electrical conductor 6l is advantageously introduced in such a way that the conductor is exposed towards the outer circumference of the cable and / or forms part of the outer circumference in order to be able to make electrical contact with the contact element 10, cf. Fig. 11 .

[0080] Alternatively or in addition to such an electrical conductor in the rope sheath, the electrical conductivity of the rope 6 can also be improved by wetting with an electrically conductive medium which can be applied to the outer circumference of the rope 6.

[0081] A wetting device 11 for wetting the surface of the fiber rope 6 can advantageously comprise a medium reservoir 12 in which the electrically conductive medium, such as oil or water, can be stored. Said medium reservoir 12 can, for example, be designed in the form of a canister or other container, as is the case with Figures 2 - 5 Depending on the medium, a volume-adjustable storage device can also be provided, for example in the form of a foil bag, a paste tube, or a storage cylinder with a movable piston, which could also be used to pressurize and / or discharge the medium and / or to dose it.

[0082] For targeted application of the medium onto the rope 6, the wetting device 11 can advantageously comprise at least one application element 13, which can comprise a application opening directed towards the rope 6.

[0083] For example, said application element 13 may comprise a spray nozzle which directs a directed jet and / or a directed mist cloud onto the rope 6.

[0084] Alternatively or additionally, a dispensing element 13 in the form of a drip valve or a drip element can be provided, which forms the medium to be dispensed into droplets that can drip onto the rope 6.

[0085] Alternatively or additionally, the application element 13 can also be provided with a spreading device, for example in the form of a brush or a fleece material roll or fabric material roll, with which the medium can be spread or rolled on the surface of the rope 6.

[0086] As the Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the wetting device 11 can be assigned to the cable section that is to be wetted with the medium mentioned. In particular, the medium reservoir 12 can be arranged above the cable section to be wetted, wherein the dispensing element 13 directed towards the cable 6 can be arranged directly on the cable and can be connected to the medium reservoir 12 by a front line 14.

[0087] How Fig. 2shows, for example, a piece of rope located on the load-handling and / or holding means 7 can be wetted and the wetting device 11 can be arranged on the said load-handling and / or holding means 7. The dispensing element 13 can discharge the medium directly onto the said piece of rope on the load-handling and / or holding means 7 and / or bring it onto a deflection pulley around which the rope 6 on the load-handling and / or holding means 7 rotates. For example, the medium reservoir 12 can be mounted on the load-handling and / or holding means 7 and follow the movements of the load-handling and / or holding means 7.

[0088] How Fig. 3shows, the wetting device 11 can also be arranged on a cable pulley or deflection pulley 15. This can, for example, be the deflection pulley 15 on the trolley 5 of the crane 1 or on another section of the boom 3, in order to wet the cable 6 or the respective cable section located there. For example, the medium reservoir 12 with the associated dispensing element 13 can be mounted on the aforementioned trolley 5 or another section of the boom 3, for example its boom tip, in order to be able to wet the respective cable section circulating around the deflection pulley 15.

[0089] How Fig. 4 As shown, the wetting device 11 can also wet a free-running section of the cable. For example, the wetting device 11, including the medium reservoir 12 and the dispensing element 13, can be mounted on a section of the boom 13 along which the cable 6 runs.

[0090] How Fig. 5As shown, the wetting device 11 can also be arranged on or adjacent to a cable winch 16 in order to wet a cable section running from or onto the cable winch 16. If necessary, the medium can also wet the already wound windings of the cable and / or the cable drum itself.

[0091] If the medium reservoir 12 is arranged above the rope section to be wetted, it may be sufficient to convey the medium to the application means 13 by gravity.

[0092] However, the medium reservoir 12 can also be arranged below and / or at the level of the rope, whereby, for example, an immersion bath can be provided.

[0093] How Fig. 8As shown, such an immersion bath can, for example, comprise a tub 12 that also serves as a reservoir, through which the fiber rope 6 to be wetted can pass. For example, a tub-shaped immersion bath container can be arranged in the area of ​​a rope deflection pulley 15 and / or a rope bottle, in which the medium level is sufficiently high so that the rope 6 can pass through the medium bath, cf. Fig. 8 .

[0094] Alternatively or in addition to gravity-driven conveying of the medium, a motor-driven conveying device, for example in the form of a pump 17, can also be provided to convey the medium to the discharge point and / or pressurize it. For example, such a pump can be provided on the medium reservoir 12, for example, integrated into the medium reservoir 12.

[0095] Such a conveying device or pump 17 can, for example, be driven by an electric motor, whereby, depending on the arrangement of the wetting device 11, a wired power supply or a battery-based power supply can be provided. For example, when arranged on the load hook 7, it can be advantageous to be able to operate the conveying device with an energy storage device, for example in the form of a battery, in order to avoid cabling to the load hook 7.

[0096] Alternatively or additionally, the conveying device or pump 17 can also be driven by a deflection pulley or a cable drum. For example, a drive connection such as a V-belt or a gear stage can be provided between the conveying device and the deflection pulley 15 or the cable drum, see. Fig. 3 , whereby such a drive connection is also possible with the other arrangement options such as acc. Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 may be provided.

[0097] Advantageously, the wetting device 11 can also comprise an adjustable dosing device 18 in order to be able to dose the amount of medium to be dispensed.

[0098] Such a dosing device 18 may, for example, comprise an adjustable valve which can open and close and / or enlarge or reduce the discharge opening of the discharge element or the front cross-section of the conveying line 14, wherein the valve can, for example, be opened and closed intermittently in order to discharge a targeted amount per opening cycle.

[0099] For gravity-driven dispensing of the medium, an adjustable hose valve, such as those used in medical dosing equipment, can be used. Alternatively or additionally, a tap-like valve can be provided in the delivery line 14.

[0100] Alternatively or in addition to such a metering valve, the metering device 18 can also be part of the aforementioned conveying device, for example in the form of the pump 17, in order to control the actively delivered application rate and thus the dose of the medium to be dispensed. For example, a reciprocating piston pump can be used as the metering device, which dispenses a specific amount per stroke. Alternatively or additionally, a pressure cylinder, which can also serve as the medium reservoir 12, can comprise an adjustable piston, the advancement of which by a specific distance dispenses a predetermined dose.

[0101] Advantageously, said dosing device 18 can be driven and / or actuated by a motor. For example, an electromagnetic actuator can be provided for opening and closing a dosing valve, and / or an electric motor for opening and closing a tap valve, and / or a rack and pinion drive and / or a hydraulic motor for actuating said dosing cylinder.

[0102] A control device 19 can control the wetting device 11 and / or the dosing device 18 depending on various operating and / or environmental parameters. For example, said control device 19 can actuate the wetting device depending on a cable movement, wherein, for example, a cable speed and / or a cable adjustment distance traveled can be taken into account for controlling the dosing device 18, for example to the extent that a larger amount of medium is dispensed at higher cable speeds and / or distances than at lower cable speeds and / or distances.

[0103] Alternatively or additionally, the control device 19 can actuate or control the wetting device 11 or the dosing device 18 depending on the ambient humidity and / or the ambient temperature. For example, in the event of rain or even very high ambient humidity, the wetting device 11 can be shut down and / or the amount of medium to be applied can be reduced. As the weather becomes increasingly dry and / or the ambient humidity decreases, the wetting device can be actuated and / or the amount of medium to be applied can be increased.

[0104] The control device 19 can be designed to take into account a weather signal, for example in the form of a rain signal and / or a humidity signal, which can be provided, for example, by a weather station and / or a rain sensor and / or a humidity sensor.

[0105] Alternatively or additionally, the control device 19 can also actuate or control the wetting device 11 or the dosing device 18 depending on the ambient temperature and / or the cable temperature. Since static charging occurs more easily or more strongly with increasing temperatures, the control device 19 can be configured to shut down the wetting device 11 at low temperatures, for example, freezing temperatures, and / or to reduce the dosing quantity, and / or conversely, to actuate the actuating device 11 and / or increase the dosing quantity as temperatures increase.

[0106] For this purpose, the control device 19 can process a temperature signal which can be provided by a weather station and / or a temperature sensor, wherein said temperature sensor can measure the ambient temperature and / or the rope temperature.

[0107] In order to keep electrostatic charges on the cable 6 away from the load-bearing and / or holding means 7, said load-bearing and / or holding means 7 can be electrically insulated from the cable 6 or an electrical insulation 20 can be provided between these two elements. If the cable is deflected around a deflection pulley 15 on the load-bearing and / or holding means 7, said insulation 20 can be mounted on the load-bearing and / or holding means 7, for example by a ceramic cable pulley bearing 20b, which can comprise a ceramic bearing pin and / or ceramic roller bearing rings and / or ceramic rolling elements and / or ceramic plain bearing rings, cf. Fig. 9 Alternatively or additionally, the insulation 20 can also have a ceramic bearing block in front of the pulley bearing on the load-bearing and / or holding means 7, as Figure 9 shows..

[0108] Alternatively or additionally, the insulation 20 can also have ceramic spacers 21 between the deflection pulley 15 and the load-bearing and / or holding means 7, cf. Fig. 2 and Fig. 9 .

[0109] Alternatively or in addition to such electrical insulation 20 from the rope 6, the load-carrying and / or holding means 7 can also be earthed by an electrically conductive connection 21 past the hoist rope 6 or parallel to the hoist rope 6 on the steel structure of the crane 1, cf. Fig. 10 .

[0110] For this purpose, for example, a cable drum or a cable storage 22 can be provided on the trolley 5, from which the electrical connecting cable 21 to the load-carrying and / or holding means 7 can be lowered or rolled out and in, cf. Fig. 10 . If the trolley 5 is guided, for example, via steel rollers on the boom 3, it may be sufficient to attach the connecting cable 21 to the trolley 5.

[0111] Alternatively or additionally, it would also be possible to attach and contact the connecting cable 21 directly to the boom or at another location on the crane 1. Alternatively, the connecting cable 21 is attached to the load-carrying and / or holding device 7 and contacted there to achieve the electrically conductive connection to the supporting structure of the hoist.

Claims

1. A lifting gear, in particular crane (1), having a high-strength fibre cable (6) to which a load receiving means and / or holding means (7) is attached, wherein a discharging device (8) for discharging electrostatic charges is provided on the fibre cable (6) and / or on the load receiving means and / or holding means (7), characterised in that the discharging device (8) has a charge diverter (9), which is in contact with the fibre cable (6) and which has a contact element (10), which is movable relative to the fibre cable (6) and touches an outer peripheral surface of the fibre cable (6), and is connected to a supporting structure (2, 3) of the lifting gear and / or another earthing potential element.

2. The lifting gear according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact element (10) is in rolling engagement with the fibre cable (6) and comprises a contact roll, or is in sliding engagement with the fibre cable (6) and has a contact slide and / or a contact brush.

3. The lifting gear according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharging device (8) has a wetting device (11) for wetting the surface of the fibre cable (6) with an electrically conductive medium, which has a medium store (12) and at least one dispensing element in supply connection to the medium store (12) for dispensing the medium onto the fibre cable (6).

4. The lifting gear according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one dispensing element (13) has a preferably paintbrush-like applicator for brushing the medium onto the fibre cable (6) or at least one injection nozzle for spraying the medium onto the fibre cable (6), or a drop generator for generating medium droplets and sprinkling them onto the fibre cable (6).

5. The lifting gear according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the wetting device (11) is arranged on the load receiving means and / or holding means (7) and is configured to wet a cable portion located on the load receiving means and / or holding means (7).

6. The lifting gear according to any one of preceding claims 3 to 5, wherein the wetting device (11) is configured for wetting a cable piece running around a pulley (15) and has a conveying device, in particular pump (17), driven by the pulley (15) to convey the medium to the cable (6).

7. The lifting gear according to any one of preceding claims 3 to 6, wherein the wetting device (11) is configured to wet a free cable piece of the fibre cable (6).

8. The lifting gear according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the wetting device (11) is mounted on a boom (3) or is arranged on a cable winch (16) and is configured to wet a cable winding wound on the cable winch (16) and / or a cable piece running off from the cable winch (16) and / or a cable piece running onto the cable winch (16).

9. The lifting gear according to any one of preceding claims 3 to 8, wherein the wetting device (11) has an adjustable dosing apparatus (18) for variably adjusting the dose, to be dispensed, of the medium, wherein the dosing apparatus (18) has a preferably motor-actuatable dosing valve or a conveying device that is controllable in respect of the conveying quantity, in particular a pump (17).

10. The lifting gear according to any one of preceding claims 3 to 9, wherein a control apparatus (19) for controlling the wetting device (11) is provided in dependence of at least one ambient and / or operating parameter of the lifting gear and is configured to actuate the wetting device (11) - in dependence on a cable movement of the fibre cable (6), in particular to increase the dispensed quantity of the medium with increasing cable speed and / or increasing cable movement distance, and / or - in dependence on an ambient humidity signal and / or rain signal, in particular to reduce the dispensed quantity of the medium with increasing ambient humidity and / or when it is raining and / or to increase the dispensed quantity of the medium with decreasing ambient humidity and / or when it is not raining, and / or - in dependence on an ambient temperature and / or a cable temperature, in particular to increase the dispensed quantity of the medium with increasing ambient and / or cable temperature.

11. The lifting gear according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharging device (8) comprises an electrically conductive connection line (21), which, past the fibre cable (6), connects the load receiving means and / or holding means (7) to a lifting gear structural part, in particular the steel structure of the crane (1), wherein the connection line (21) is attached to a line store (22) such that it can be retracted and deployed, the line store being mounted on a trolley (5) or a boom (3) of the lifting gear.

12. The lifting gear according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the load receiving means and / or holding means (7) and the cable are electrically insulated from one another by an electrical insulation (20), wherein the electrical insulation (20) comprises a cable roll bearing made of a non-conductive, in particular ceramic material and / or spacer plates (20a) between the cable roll (15) and the load receiving means and / or holding means (7) made of a non-conductive, in particular ceramic material.

13. The lifting gear according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibre cable (6) has at least one electrical conductor, which is arranged exposed on an outer casing of the fibre cable (6) towards the outer peripheral side of the fibre cable (6), wherein the at least one electrical conductor (61) is woven into the outer casing of the fibre cable.

14. The lifting gear according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibre cable (6) forms a hoist cable and a lifting unit drive is provided for retracting and lowering the hoist cable.

15. The lifting gear according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the fibre cable (6) forms a guy and / or adjustment cable of a guy and / or adjustment cable system for steadying and / or adjusting a boom (3) and / or mast and / or tower (2).