Walking beam device

Abstract

The invention relates to a walking beam device (1) with a first and a second support unit (5a, 5b), a walking beam (2) with a support surface (6) which forms a rail section (7A) of a crane rail (7), wherein the walking beam (2) runs between a first and a second guide support (3a, 3b) and is displaceably mounted on the first and second guide support (3a, 3b) so that it can be adjusted between a lower and an upper position (Pu, Po), a counterweight (11a, 11b) with a counterweight mass (M11a, M11b) which is connected to the walking beam (2) via a counterweight cable system (S1) in such a way that the counterweight mass (M11a, M11b) proportionally compensates for a walking beam mass (M2) of the walking beam (2); and a lifting mechanism (20).According to the invention, the lifting mechanism (20) is arranged away from the lifting beam (2) and is connected to the lifting beam (2) via a lifting mechanism cable system (S2), so that the lifting beam (2) can be adjusted in the vertical direction (Y) via the lifting mechanism cable system (S2) when the lifting mechanism (20) is actuated.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a walking beam device for bridging a transfer area of ​​a factory hall according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Overhead cranes are typically moved along two crane rails within a crane hall to transport a specific load and / or position tools attached to the overhead crane, for example, in an aluminum production plant or other plants. To transport such an overhead crane between different bays of the respective plant, a transfer area is provided where the overhead crane can be taken over by a transfer bridge.

[0003] To do this, the rail sections of the respective crane rail located in the transfer area are lifted upwards and replaced with transfer rails of the transfer bridge. After the overhead crane has moved onto the transfer rails of the transfer bridge, the transfer bridge can be moved into the other bay with the overhead crane on board. There, the transfer rails of the transfer bridge are inserted into the crane rail there, and the overhead crane can be moved onto a crane rail located there and used accordingly.

[0004] In order to lift the rail sections of the respective crane rail located in the transfer area upwards, the respective liftable rail section is part of a lifting beam that bridges the transfer area and is guided on both sides by two floor-mounted support units with vertically running guide beams. The support units are positioned to the left and right of the transfer area. Such known lifting beam devices have a lifting mechanism, for example a hydraulically and electrically operated lifting mechanism, which is arranged directly in the lifting beam. The lifting mechanism interacts with chains or ropes that are attached to the top and bottom of the floor-mounted support units. By controlling the lifting mechanism accordingly, the lifting beam can be adjusted up or down along the chains or ropes.

[0005] In addition, the lifting beam is connected via a cable to counterweights, each of which is guided vertically in a support unit. The counterweights are slightly lighter than the lifting beam, so that the hoist only has to lift the portion of the lifting beam mass that is not already compensated by the counterweights via the chains or cables.

[0006] The disadvantage of this design is that the lifting mechanism is located within the lifting beam itself, which makes assembly and control more complex. Furthermore, if the lifting mechanism fails, the lifting beam is not necessarily locked, and transferring it to a safe and locked position is very complex in the event of a failure. Due to the positioning of the lifting mechanism on the lifting beam and the heavy weight of the lifting beam, repairs are not only complex but also dangerous due to the positioning of the lifting beam, or can only be carried out under strict safety requirements.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a walking beam device that can be operated easily and safely.

[0008] This object is achieved by a walking beam device according to the independent patent claim. The subclaims specify preferred developments.

[0009] According to the invention, a walking beam device is provided for bridging a transfer area of ​​a factory hall or a crane hall, for example in an aluminum production plant or in other plants, which at least has: a first support unit and a second support unit for anchoring the lifting beam device to the ground in the transfer area, whereby the anchoring can be done directly or indirectly (e.g.via floor-mounted pillars or via walls of the factory hall); a lifting beam with at least one support surface or at least one support area, wherein the at least one support surface or the at least one support area forms a rail section of at least one crane rail, wherein the respective crane rail extends by means of the respective rail section beyond the transfer area and in each case serves to accommodate an indoor crane, wherein the lifting beam runs between a first guide beam of the first support unit and a second guide beam of the second support unit, so that the lifting beam can bridge the transfer area, and the lifting beam is mounted or displaceable in the vertical direction on the first guide beam and on the second guide beam.is guided, for example via rollers and / or rails, so that the walking beam can be adjusted between a lower (end) position and an upper (end) position; at least one counterweight with a counterweight mass, wherein the at least one counterweight is connected to the walking beam via a counterweight cable system in such a way that the counterweight mass proportionally compensates for a walking beam mass of the walking beam, and a lifting mechanism for adjusting the walking beam in the vertical direction when the lifting mechanism is correspondingly controlled or actuated, wherein the lifting mechanism according to the invention is located away from the walking beam or stationary on the floor or in the roof of the factory hall or on a . The platform is arranged and the hoist is connected to the lifting beam via a hoist cable system, which is preferably separate or independent of the counterweight cable system, so that the lifting beam can be adjusted vertically when the hoist is actuated or controlled via the hoist cable system. The hoist can, for example, have motor-driven cable winches on which hoist cables of the hoist cable system can be wound up and unwound to cause a corresponding movement of the lifting beam.

[0010] The solution according to the invention already achieves the advantage that the separate and stationary arrangement of the lifting mechanism allows for a simpler structure and easier control for adjusting the lifting beam. Furthermore, in the event of a defect, the lifting mechanism can be repaired more easily and with fewer safety precautions. Maintenance is also easier overall, since the respective activities no longer take place at the corresponding height on the lifting beam, which may also not be locked in a safe position due to the defect.

[0011] Rather, the hoist or platform can be positioned away from the walking beam and, if required, also away from the support unit, so that the hoist is easily and safely accessible, for example via the platform. In particular, it can be provided that the hoist is also outside the transfer area or not below or above the movable walking beam on the walking beam device, so that this safety-critical area does not necessarily have to be entered in the event of a defect. The distance between the hoist and the walking beam or the support units in the transfer area is then bridged via the hoist cable system, so that the transfer area itself can initially remain free for repairs.

[0012] In order to subsequently be able to eliminate any defects that may exist on the lifting beam or the cable systems, it can additionally be provided that braking means are arranged on the lifting beam, for example on the front side between the lifting beam and the guide supports, wherein the braking means are designed to lock or fix the lifting beam in a fixed position, wherein the braking means can be activated via a brake controller, wherein the brake controller is preferably located away from the lifting beam, in particular on the platform and / or adjacent to the stationary lifting gear. Therefore, in the event of a defect, the lifting beam can be safely positioned from a non-safety-critical location.

[0013] Preferably, it is further provided that the hoist cable system has at least one hoist cable and at least one hoist deflection system, for example with deflection pulleys, wherein the at least one hoist cable runs from the hoist via the at least one hoist deflection system to the walking beam and is attached thereto. In this way, the bridging between the hoist and the walking beam can be achieved in a simple manner, wherein the hoist deflection system is used to redirect the hoist cable in order to guide the hoist cable from above to the walking beam and thereby cause the walking beam to be raised when the hoist cable is pulled. Preferably, all hoist deflection systems are independent of one another so that they can be maintained independently of one another and cannot influence one another.

[0014] For this purpose, it is preferably provided that at least one lifting gear deflection system is arranged vertically above the upper position of the lifting beam, preferably on the upper side of the respective support unit. The support unit can then be easily configured on the upper side to accommodate the lifting gear deflection system, so that no additional supports are required.

[0015] Preferably, the hoist cable system further comprises two hoist cables, each of which extends from the hoist via at least one hoist deflection system to the lifting beam and is attached thereto. In this way, the weight or force for lifting or holding the lifting beam can be distributed across two hoist cables, allowing, for example, the lifting beam to be lifted from both sides to avoid the risk of the lifting beam becoming caught on the lateral guide supports. If necessary, the tensile force or holding force can also be distributed across two different drives in the hoist or across two hoists.

[0016] Preferably, the two hoist ropes are also approximately the same length. This allows both hoist ropes to be easily driven synchronously by the hoist without the need for additional gears or mechanisms. Since both hoist ropes are approximately the same length, natural elongation occurs to the same extent on both hoist ropes over their service life, so this elongation does not require any other means of compensation to maintain synchronous adjustment.

[0017] Preferably, it is further provided that a first hoist rope extending from the hoist to a first hoist deflection system, which is preferably located on the upper side of the respective support unit, and via a second hoist deflection system, which is located on the lifting beam, runs to the lifting beam and is fastened thereto, and a second hoist rope extending from the hoist to a third hoist deflection system, which is preferably located on the upper side of the respective support unit, and via a fourth hoist deflection system, which is preferably also located on the upper side of the respective support unit, runs to the lifting beam and is fastened thereto.

[0018] This provides a simple cable guide for a uniform and safe lifting of the lifting beam. Preferably, it can then further be provided that the two hoist cables are attached to the same attachment point on the lifting beam, with the attachment point preferably located approximately vertically below the fourth hoist deflection system. In this way, both hoist cables are approximately the same length, enabling a synchronized and uniform lifting of the lifting beam in a particularly efficient manner.

[0019] Preferably, the counterweight cable system further comprises at least one counterweight cable and at least one counterweight deflection system, wherein the at least one counterweight cable extends from the at least one counterweight via the at least one counterweight deflection system to the lifting beam and is attached thereto. This allows for simple balancing of the weight of the lifting beam, so that only a small amount of work is required via the lifting mechanism to adjust the lifting beam. To minimize maintenance effort and avoid mutual interference, the counterweight deflection system is completely independent of the lifting mechanism deflection system.

[0020] Preferably, it is further provided that the at least one counterweight deflection system is arranged vertically above the upper position of the lifting beam, preferably on an upper side of the respective support unit. For this purpose, the support unit can also be easily configured on the upper side to accommodate the counterweight deflection system (preferably independently of the hoist deflection system), so that no additional supports are required.

[0021] It is preferably further provided that the counterweight cable system has two counterweight cables, wherein each of the two counterweight cables is connected to another counterweight and each of the two counterweight cables runs from the respective counterweight via at least one counterweight deflection system to the walking beam and is fastened thereto, wherein a first counterweight is guided on the first support unit, in particular on the first guide support, and a second counterweight is guided on the second support unit, in particular on the second guide support. In this way, the weight of the walking beam can be balanced on both sides by different counterweights, so that the individual counterweights can be dimensioned smaller than a single larger counterweight and the risk of one-sided loading is easily avoided.

[0022] Preferably, the two counterweight cables are approximately the same length and the two counterweights are approximately the same weight. This identical design on both sides enables a simple, synchronous lifting of the lifting beam on both sides.

[0023] Preferably, it is further provided that a sum of the counterweight masses of all existing counterweights, which are connected to the walking beam via the counterweight cable system, is selected such that the walking beam mass is predominantly balanced by the counterweights and only the small remaining part of the walking beam weight has to be borne by the lifting gear, so that the power applied by the lifting gear is reduced accordingly, compared to a sole adjustment of the walking beam without counterweights.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a front view of a walking beam device; Fig. 2 a side view of the walking beam device according to Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 3 a plan view of the walking beam device according to Fig. 1 .

[0025] In Figur 1 1 shows a lifting beam device 1 which has a lifting girder 2 which can be adjusted upwards and downwards in the vertical direction Y relative to a base U, for example a hall floor of a factory hall 100. For this purpose, the lifting beam 2 is mounted on a first guide support 3a at its first end face 2a and on a second guide support 3b at its second end face 2b, for example via rollers arranged on the end face which roll laterally on the respective guide support 3a, 3b. The lifting beam 2 can be adjusted in height between a lower position Pu and an upper position Po.

[0026] The first guide beam 3a, together with a first support beam 4a, and the second guide beam 3b, together with a second support beam 4b, form part of a first and second support unit 5a, 5b, respectively, which are located at a corresponding distance from one another so that the lifting beam 2 can be guided vertically. The respective support beam 4a, 4b serves to firmly connect the respective support unit 5a, 5b to the ground, e.g., to the subsurface U and / or to a solid wall or the like. The support beams 4a, 4b and the guide beams 3a, 3b of the respective support unit 5a, 5b are connected to one another in a corresponding manner or are designed as a single piece from the outset.

[0027] The walking beam device 1 is positioned in a transfer area T within the factory hall 100 such that the walking beam 2 bridges the transfer area T, ie the two support units 5a, 5b are located to the side of the transfer area T.

[0028] The lifting beam 2 has according to Fig. 2 a support surface 6 which extends in the longitudinal direction X with respect to the lifting beam 2 and which forms a rail section 7A of a crane rail 7. The crane rail 7, which in Fig. 1 is only partially indicated, extends over the walking beam 2 along the entire factory hall 100. Two such crane rails 7 running parallel to one another, each of which has a rail section 7A formed in the transfer area T by the support surface 6 of a walking beam 2 of a walking beam device 1, form a pair of rails on which rollers of an indoor crane can rest. This allows the indoor crane to be moved along the pair of rails, for example to transport a load through the factory hall 100 and / or to position tools within the factory hall 100. If there are two such indoor cranes in adjacent bays of the factory hall, one such support surface 6 can extend in the longitudinal direction X on each of the two opposite long sides of the walking beam 2. Each support surface 6 then forms a rail section 7A of a crane rail 7 located in the respective bay.In this way, the walking beam device 1 can be used for two adjacent and parallel crane rails 7 simultaneously.

[0029] In order to be able to transport such an overhead crane within a factory premises to another hall section or to another hall bay, a so-called transfer bridge (not shown) can be inserted into each crane rail 7 of the rail pair in the transfer area T, whereby the transfer bridge can be moved on the base U. The respective transfer bridge has a support surface designed in the longitudinal direction X, comparable to the lifting beam 2, which, after the lifting beam 2 has been raised, can form the rail section 7A of the respective crane rail 7 that is then missing in the respective transfer area T. In this state, the overhead crane can be moved on both sides onto the two transfer bridges and these can be moved together with the overhead crane along the base U into another hall section or another hall bay in order to load the overhead crane onto another pair of rails there.

[0030] In order to enable the described lifting of the lifting beam 2, the lifting beam device 1 has several cable systems as described below: Firstly, the lifting beam 2 is connected to two counterweights 11a, 11b via a counterweight cable system S1, wherein a first counterweight 11a is mounted on the first guide support 3a and a second counterweight 11b is mounted on the second guide support 3b in a vertically displaceable manner, as shown in Fig. 1 The counterweight cable system S1 consists of two counterweight cables 10a, 10b, with a first counterweight cable 10a running from the first counterweight 11a via a first counterweight deflection system 12a to the lifting beam 2, and a second counterweight cable 10b running from the second counterweight 11b via a second counterweight deflection system 12b, also to the lifting beam 2. The two counterweight cables 10a, 10b are preferably attached to different ends of the lifting beam 2.

[0031] The respective counterweight deflection system 12a, 12b has, for example, at least one deflection pulley on which the respective counterweight cable 10a, 10b rests and is thereby deflected. The respective counterweight deflection system 12a, 12b is positioned above the upper position Po, which the lifting beam 2 can maximally assume. This is preferably achieved by attaching the respective counterweight deflection system 12a, 12b to an upper side 8a, 8b of the respective support unit 5a, 5b, for example, to the guide support 3a, 3b, as shown in the figures.

[0032] Due to this deflection of the counterweight cables 10a, 10b of the counterweight cable system S1, a vertical movement of the lifting beam 2 also causes a vertical movement of the respective counterweight 11a, 11b (and vice versa). The counterweights 11a, 11b each have an approximately identical counterweight mass M11a; M11b, the sum of which is less than the lifting beam mass M2 of the lifting beam 2. Without any additional external influence, the lifting beam 2 pulls the counterweights 11a, 11b upwards through its lifting beam mass M2, guided by the guide beams 3a, 3b, while the lifting beam 2 sinks downwards accordingly.

[0033] Furthermore, the lifting beam 2 is connected via a hoist cable system S2 to a hoist 20, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is located away from the lifting beam 2 and away from the support unit 5a, 5b on a separate platform 21. However, the hoist 20 can also be located directly on the subsurface U or in the roof of the factory hall (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the hoist cable system S2 consists of two hoist cables 14a, 14b, which can be wound up or unwound synchronously and in a controlled manner by a drive of the hoist 20. A first hoist rope 14a runs from the hoist 20 to a first hoist deflection system 15a and via a second hoist deflection system 15b on the lifting beam 2 to a fastening point 16 on the lifting beam 2. A second hoist rope 14b runs from the hoist 20 to a third hoist deflection system 15c and is deflected via a fourth hoist deflection system 15d to the fastening point 16 on the lifting beam 2.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment of the hoist rope system S2, the two hoist ropes 14a, 14b are each deflected via two hoist deflection systems 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d and attached to the lifting beam 2 via the same attachment point 16. Attaching them to the same attachment point 16 ensures that both hoist ropes 14a, 14b have approximately the same length and therefore approximately the same tensile forces are transmitted from the lifting beam 2 to both hoist ropes 14a, 14b, which simplifies the synchronous control of the hoist 20.

[0035] The respective hoist deflection system 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d has, for example, at least one deflection pulley on which the respective hoist cable 14a, 14b rests and is thereby deflected. The respective hoist cable 14a, 14b is deflected at least via a hoist deflection system 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d located above the upper position Po that the lifting beam 2 can maximally assume, thus enabling the lifting beam 2 to be raised to the upper position Po via the hoist cables 14a, 14b. This is preferably achieved in that the respective hoist deflection system (here the first, third and fourth hoist deflection system 15a, 15c, 15d) is fastened to the upper side 8a, 8b of the respective carrier unit 5a, 5b, for example to the guide carrier 3a, 3b, as shown in the figures.

[0036] Such a second cable system S2 enables the lifting beam 2 to be raised or lowered in a targeted manner, whereby the tensile force, which is transmitted via the respective cable system S1, S2 to the hoist 20 or the counterweights 11a, 11b due to the weight force (lifting beam mass M2) of the lifting beam 2, is distributed between both, with the counterweights 11a, 11b compensating for the majority of the lifting beam mass M2 and the hoist 20 compensating for the remaining smaller portion. Therefore, only the smaller portion of the lifting beam mass M2 that is not already compensated for by the two counterweights 11a, 11b or by the sum of the counterweight masses M11a, M11b via the counterweight cable system S1 acts on the hoist 20, whereby friction effects from the respective deflection systems must also be taken into account. This can reduce the power or force that has to be applied by the lifting mechanism 20.

[0037] Since the lifting mechanism 20 is not located on the lifting beam 2 itself, but rather power is transmitted via the second cable system S2 from away from the lifting beam 2 and away from the support unit 5a, 5b, a defect in the lifting mechanism 20 can be easily and safely repaired because the platform 21 is easily accessible. In order to be able to immediately bring the lifting beam 2 into a safe and / or locked position in the event of such a defect in the lifting mechanism 20, first and second braking means 9a, 9b can additionally be activated on the respective end faces 2a, 2b of the lifting beam 2. The activation can take place automatically or manually from the platform 21 via a corresponding brake controller 22. List of reference symbols

[0038] 1Walking beam device 2Walking beam 2aFirst end face of the walking beam 2 2bSecond end face of the walking beam 2 3aFirst guide beam 3bSecond guide beam 4aFirst support beam 4bSecond support beam 5aFirst support unit 5bSecond support unit 6Support surface 7ARail section 7Crane rail 8aTop of the first support unit 5a 8bTop of the second support unit 5b 9aFirst braking means 9bSecond braking means 10aFirst counterweight rope 10bSecond counterweight rope 11aFirst counterweight 11bSecond counterweight 12aFirst counterweight deflection system 12bSecond counterweight deflection system 14aFirst hoist rope 14bSecond hoist rope 15aFirst hoist deflection system 15bSecond Hoist deflection system 15c Third hoist deflection system 15d Fourth hoist deflection system 16 Attachment point 20 Hoist 21 Platform 22 Brake controller 100 Factory hall M11a Counterweight mass of the first counterweight 11a M11b Counterweight mass of the second counterweight 11b M2 Walking beam mass Po Upper position P Lower positionS1Counterweight cable system S2Hoist cable system TTransfer area XLongitudinal direction Yvertical direction

Claims

1. A walking beam device (1) for bridging a transfer area (T) of a factory hall (100), comprising at least: - a first support unit (5a) and a second support unit (5b) for anchoring the walking beam device (1) firmly to the floor in the transfer area (T); - a walking beam (2) with at least one support surface (6), wherein the at least one support surface (6) forms a rail section (7A) of at least one crane rail (7), wherein the walking beam (2) extends between a first guide support (3a) of the first support unit (5a) and a second guide support (3b) of the second support unit (5b), and the walking beam (2) is mounted on the first guide support (3a) and the second guide support (3b) so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction (Y), so that the walking beam (2) can be adjusted between a lower position (Pu) and an upper position (Po);- at least one counterweight (11a, 11b) with a counterweight mass (M11a, M11b), wherein the at least one counterweight (11a, 11b) is connected to the walking beam (2) via a counterweight cable system (S1) in such a way that the counterweight mass (M11a, M11b) proportionally compensates for a walking beam mass (M2) of the walking beam (2); and - a lifting mechanism (20) for adjusting the walking beam (2) in the vertical direction (Y); characterized in that the lifting mechanism (20) is arranged away from the lifting beam (2) and the lifting mechanism (20) is connected to the lifting beam (2) via a lifting mechanism cable system (S2), so that the lifting beam (2) can be adjusted in the vertical direction (Y) via the lifting mechanism cable system (S2) when the lifting mechanism (20) is actuated.

2. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe hoisting gear cable system (S2) has at least one hoisting gear cable (14a, 14b) and at least one hoisting gear deflection system (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d), wherein the at least one hoisting gear cable (14a, 14b) runs from the hoisting gear (20) via the at least one hoisting gear deflection system (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) to the lifting beam (2) and is fastened thereto.

3. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one lifting gear deflection system (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) is arranged in the vertical direction (Y) above the upper position (Po) of the lifting beam (2), preferably on an upper side (8a, 8b) of the respective carrier unit (5a, 5b).

4. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in thatthe hoisting gear cable system (S2) has two hoisting gear cables (14a, 14b), each of the two hoisting gear cables (14a, 14b) extending from the hoisting gear (20) via at least one hoisting gear deflection system (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) to the lifting beam (2) and being fastened thereto, the two hoisting gear cables (14a, 14b) preferably being fastened to the same fastening point (16) on the lifting beam (2).

5. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that all hoist deflection systems (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) are independent of each other.

6. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that- a first hoist rope (14a) extending from the hoist (20) to a first hoist deflection system (15a) and via a second hoist deflection system (15b) located on the lifting beam (2), to the lifting beam (2) and is fastened thereto, and - a second hoist rope (14b) extending from the hoist (20) to a third hoist deflection system (15c) and via a fourth hoist deflection system (15d) to the lifting beam (2) and is fastened thereto.

7. Walking beam device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the two hoist ropes (14a, 14b) can be driven in a synchronized manner by the hoist (20) and / or the two hoist ropes (14a, 14b) preferably have approximately the same length.

8. Walking beam device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe lifting mechanism (20) is arranged on a platform (21) or on a floor or on a roof of the factory hall, preferably in such a way that the lifting mechanism (20) is not located below the lifting beam (2) or above the lifting beam (2).

9. Walking beam device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that braking means (9a, 9b) are arranged on the lifting beam (2) and are designed to lock the lifting beam (2) in a fixed position, wherein the braking means (9a, 9b) can be activated via a brake controller (22), wherein the brake controller (22) is preferably located away from the lifting beam (2), in particular on the platform (21) and / or adjacent to the lifting mechanism (20).

10. Walking beam device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe counterweight cable system (S1) has at least one counterweight cable (10a, 10b) and at least one counterweight deflection system (12a, 12b), wherein the at least one counterweight cable (10a, 10b) runs from the at least one counterweight (11a, 11b) via the at least one counterweight deflection system (12a, 12b) to the lifting beam (2) and is fastened thereto.

11. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one counterweight deflection system (12a, 12b) is arranged in the vertical direction (Y) above the upper position (Po) of the lifting beam (2), preferably on an upper side (8a, 8b) of the respective carrier unit (5a, 5b).

12. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in thatthe counterweight cable system (S1) has two counterweight cables (10a, 10b), each of the two counterweight cables (10a, 10b) being connected to another counterweight (11a, 11b) and each of the two counterweight cables (10a, 10b) extending from the respective counterweight (11a, 11b) via at least one counterweight deflection system (12a, 12b) to the lifting beam (2) and being fastened thereto.

13. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a first counterweight (11a) is guided on the first support unit (5a), in particular on the first guide support (3a), and a second counterweight (11b) is guided on the second support unit (5b), in particular on the second guide support (3b).

14. Walking beam device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the two counterweight cables (10a, 10b) have approximately the same length and the two counterweights (11a, 11b) have approximately the same counterweight mass (M11a, M11b).

15. Walking beam device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counterweight rope system (S1) is independent of the hoist rope system (S2), in particular the hoist ropes (14a, 14b) run independently of the counterweight ropes (10, 10b).

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