Rotary tower crane and method for climbing a structure with a rotary tower crane

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rotary tower crane having a tower (2) which has a boom (5) which can be rotated about an upright axis of rotation, from which boom a lifting cable for lifting (7) a load extends down, and having a climbing device (10) for climbing a building (9) and / or progressively climbing a building which is under construction, wherein the climbing device has a support frame (11, 12) which has fastening means (13) for fastening to the building and a sliding guide for displacing the tower in the tower longitudinal direction, and a lifting mechanism (20) for raising the tower relative to the support frame, wherein the climbing device comprises two support frames each of which is designed to hold the tower and the boom mounted thereon on the building alone and to guide same in a displaceable manner alone and to transfer all the forces and torques acting on the tower to the building such that one of the two support frames in each case can be detached from the building.

Description

[0001] Tower crane and method for climbing a structure with a tower crane

[0002] The present invention relates to tower cranes having a tower supporting a boom rotatable about an upright axis of rotation, from which a hoist rope for lifting loads extends, and having a climbing device for climbing a structure and / or climbing along a growing structure, wherein the climbing device comprises a support frame having fastening means for fastening to the structure and a sliding guide for displacing the tower in the longitudinal direction of the tower, as well as a lifting device for lifting the tower relative to the support frame. The invention further relates to a method for climbing a structure with a tower crane, in which the tower is held entirely on the structure without its own ground support and is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the tower, or for erecting and / or equipping a structure such as a wind turbine tower, and furthermore to an adapter piece for attaching a support frame for attaching a tower crane to a turbine tower.

[0003] When erecting tall buildings, tower cranes are regularly used; these cranes grow with the structure, so to speak, and are supported by the structure. Various approaches are pursued, and accordingly differently designed climbing equipment is used. On the one hand, climbing equipment is used by means of which additional tower sections can be gradually "climbed" into the tower, so that the tower can grow in height bit by bit, or conversely, once the building is completed, it can be shortened bit by bit and dismantled. Such climbing equipment is described, for example, in the documents DE 20 2005 009 236 U1 or DE 20 2014 003 465 U1. With this approach, the tower can support itself on the ground, whereby the tower is only anchored to the structure to prevent it from toppling over or buckling.

[0004] On the other hand, climbing systems are also known that move the tower upwards along the structure and themselves climb the building bit by bit, as it grows upwards, by alternately moving the tower a little and then relocating the supporting frame a little. This approach is often used for so-called interior climbing, in which the tower is positioned and anchored in an elevator shaft or inside the tower of a wind turbine. The tower is usually supported on the structure at two separate guide levels via clamping frames spaced relatively far apart, 8 meters or more, so that the loads from the crane are distributed across two levels and not concentrated into the structure at one point.Once the structure has grown sufficiently, a third clamping frame can be anchored higher, and the tower can then be moved upwards to be anchored to the third and the previously upper clamping frame. This approach, in which the tower is no longer directly supported on the ground but is instead carried by the structure, has the advantage that the crane tower does not need to be as tall as the structure itself, but rather a much taller structure can be erected or worked on with a relatively short tower.

[0005] For very tall structures such as wind turbine towers, which, unlike skyscrapers or residential towers, do not require complex interior construction with apartment layouts, etc., mobile crawler cranes are often used today to assemble the actual wind turbine in the form of the nacelle and the rotor blades mounted on it at the top of the tower. While this is a complex, but time-limited, individual job, its completion fits the application profile of a mobile crane. However, with the ever-increasing hub heights of modern wind turbines, even large mobile cranes with crawler tracks and derrick booms are reaching their limits in terms of lifting height and lifting capacity, or even larger mobile crawler cranes are becoming exorbitantly expensive.

[0006] Current wind turbines have standard hub heights of around 150m, although hub heights will increase further in the near future, likely reaching 200m and then 230 to 250m, with turbine outputs of up to 10kW expected. This will make the equipment of the actual wind turbine, namely the nacelle, rotor, generator, etc., that has to be lifted onto the top of the turbine tower even heavier.

[0007] In addition to the technical demands placed on the cranes, the costs of these ever-increasing wind turbines will also increase significantly, with sufficiently large crawler cranes, for example, costing tens of millions of euros to purchase. In addition to this purchase price, the logistics costs associated with the respective system, including the assembly and disassembly of the crane and its transport to the construction site, are also of great importance. For the aforementioned crawler cranes, logistics costs can reach several hundred thousand euros due to the enormous ballast weights and the massive components to be transported, as well as the difficult transport and complex assembly.

[0008] To significantly reduce these exorbitant logistics costs, a fundamental approach is seen as using a tower crane for the erection and / or assembly of such wind turbine towers or similarly tall structures. This at least avoids the enormous ballast weights of ground-based crawler cranes and their difficult road transport, which in itself leads to a significant reduction in logistics costs.

[0009] However, in order not to give away or partially lose this advantage through the complex assembly of the tower crane on the structure to be erected, it is necessary to design the tower crane and its attachment to the tower in such a way that simple assembly is achieved while still providing sufficient stability to be able to mount the heavy equipment or plant components on the uppermost section of the plant tower without the need for long and difficult assembly processes.

[0010] For example, EP 27 15 113 B1 proposes using two cranes with different lifting capacities to erect a wind turbine. A lighter crane is used to erect the wind turbine tower and is anchored to the growing tower with a support frame. The support frame is moved along the tower using a climbing device and anchored using new anchoring anchors. A stronger or heavier tower crane is then hoisted up onto the erected wind turbine tower and anchored there to lift heavy structural components such as the wind turbine nacelle.

[0011] EP 40 06 265 A1 proposes, for climbing a tower with a crane, to provide a series of anchoring points on the tower into which adjustable anchors of the tower's climbing device can be hooked in order to gradually move the climbing device together with the tower of the crane upwards on the building tower by changing the anchoring points and moving the fastening anchors.

[0012] EP 40 95 086 proposes a tower crane whose tower is divided into two separate telescopic sections and can be anchored to the building to be erected by means of three support frames, one support frame being arranged between the two telescopic sections and the other two support frames being arranged at opposite ends of the two telescopic sections, so that one of the three support frames can be detached from the building, while the other two anchor the tower to the building and one of the two telescopic sections can be telescoped in or out before the detached support frame is anchored to the building again and another support frame is detached.

[0013] NL 20 19 462 A1 proposes that, when erecting a tower-like structure, a track-like sliding guide should be gradually attached to it, along which a crane with a sled guide can be moved ever higher.

[0014] Further climbing devices for climbing structures with a crane are shown in the documents WO 2020 / 234435 A1 and EP 33 56 280 A1 .

[0015] The climbing systems known from the state of the art can be improved in several respects. For example, climbing systems that use the structure as a crane base and push the tower upwards along the structure typically require a predetermined structure height to adequately support the crane tower. Therefore, in the initial phase of construction, when the structure does not yet have the specified height, another crane often has to be used to erect the lowest part of the structure. At the same time, crane assembly becomes relatively complex if the structure requires a certain minimum height to erect the crane, since the crane or its upper components, such as the boom, must then be mounted at a relatively high height.

[0016] On the other hand, climbing systems that can push the crane tower upwards on the structure often require a relatively large number of components and the relocation of the support frames is relatively complex, so that the climbing of the crane becomes logistically complex and all necessary components must be kept ready.

[0017] Furthermore, the climbing speed has so far been limited and the crane's operating times are often interrupted, for example when the climbing crossbeam has to be moved several times in order to move the tower upwards piece by piece. The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating an improved tower crane and an improved method for climbing or equipping a structure with a tower crane of the type mentioned, which avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and advantageously develop the latter further. Preferably, an improved climbing device for a tower crane is to be created which enables simple climbing operation at high climbing speeds and without lengthy interruptions to crane operation with low personnel requirements, reduces the assembly effort for installing the crane on the structure and enables its use even on very low structures.In particular, the aim is to achieve simple assembly of a tower crane on tall, slender structures and a drastic reduction in logistics costs for the erection of very tall structures carrying heavy equipment such as wind turbines on their tops, without compromising the stability and precision required for the assembly process.

[0018] According to the invention, the stated object is achieved by a tower crane according to claim 1, a method according to claims 14 and 19, and an adapter piece according to claim 27. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0019] The proposal is therefore to allow the tower to climb up the structure using two support frames, each of which can independently hold the tower and the boom supported on it to the structure while simultaneously sliding relative to the structure. This allows only one of the two support frames to be attached to the structure at a time, or one of the two support frames can be detached from the structure at a time. While one support frame remains fully functional and holds the crane to the structure and can slide relative to the structure, it is simultaneously possible to detach the other support frame from the structure or reattach it at a different location for use in another sliding section.Since each support frame is sufficiently stable and designed to absorb all forces and moments on its own, the entire tower crane can be held to the structure by just one support frame, even during operation when lifting loads, without the need for additional bracing to the structure and its installation.

[0020] According to the invention, the climbing device comprises two support frames, each of which is designed to hold the tower and the boom mounted thereon on the structure alone and to guide it displaceably on its own, thereby introducing all forces and moments acting on the tower into the structure, so that one of the two support frames can be detached from the structure at a time.

[0021] By concentrating all shear forces in combination with the crane's climbing function, the climbing process can be significantly accelerated and carried out more safely and economically due to the reduced personnel requirements. In particular, the independent, self-sufficient functionality of each of the support frames means that the climbing device and thus the crane can be installed and commissioned on the structure using just one support frame, even at very low building heights. This simplifies assembly considerably, as assembly can take place at the smallest possible height, which significantly reduces assembly costs and significantly increases safety. At the same time, the integration of complete holding and climbing or adjusting of the tower into each of the two support frames allows for simple handling with a few parts, as just two support frames are sufficient to enable the crane to climb and anchor to the structure.

[0022] In an advantageous development of the invention, a sliding guide can be provided on each support frame, which has two guide planes spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the tower, in each of which sliding guide means for displaceably guiding the tower are provided. The said sliding guide means absorb transverse forces transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tower and / or prevent transverse movements of the tower transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tower, wherein the tower can be guided in the sliding guide planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tower essentially without play, while movements of the tower in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tower are permitted. In particular, the tower is fixed in all directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tower by the sliding guide planes, so that the tower only remains movable in one direction, namely the longitudinal direction of the tower. The said sliding guide means can be located on the longitudinal chords of the tower orThe tower wall has guide rollers and / or sliding pieces that roll along it, which can be arranged on several sides of the tower. If the tower is advantageously designed as a truss structure consisting of several longitudinal chords and cross struts that brace the longitudinal chords, the sliding guide means can roll or slide along the longitudinal chords.

[0023] Advantageously, at least one sliding guide means in the form of a roller or a sliding piece can be assigned to each longitudinal belt of the tower in each of the two guide levels, wherein each belt can be encompassed by the at least one sliding guide means in sectors or guided from different sides.

[0024] Compared to the state of the art solution, the two guide levels can be arranged relatively close to each other, for example at a distance of only 2 m to 5 m, so that on the one hand the loads can be introduced in a very concentrated manner, but on the other hand bending moments can be transferred without excessive stress on the tower structure.

[0025] The two guide levels, or the sliding guide elements arranged therein, are rigidly positioned relative to each other. The support frame can, for example, be a sturdy steel support structure or be constructed from fiber-reinforced plastic supports that rigidly connect the two guide levels and form a rigid enclosure or profile in the guide levels, to which the sliding guide elements are mounted.

[0026] Via the two guide planes of the supporting frame mentioned above, the respective supporting frame can absorb all bending moments and shear forces acting on the tower alone, or all bending moments and shear forces acting on the tower are introduced into the respective supporting frame via the two guide planes mentioned above and then into the structure via the supporting frame's fastening means. The fastening means of the supporting frames can be designed in various ways, in particular comprising form-fitting fastening anchors that can rigidly anchor the supporting frame at several points on the structure. Advantageously, the fastening means are designed to be detachable or are provided with detachable coupling means in order to be able to anchor the supporting frame to the structure and release it again easily if the supporting frame needs to be relocated.

[0027] Advantageously, the aforementioned coupling means can comprise socket pin couplings or connections that hold the respective supporting frame to the structure, wherein such socket pin connections can preferably be arranged distributed in two superimposed planes. Preferably, several coupling means or socket pin connections are arranged spaced apart from one another in at least one plane or in each of the two planes. In principle, however, it may be sufficient to provide two spaced-apart couplings in one plane and another coupling in the second plane.

[0028] Preferably, the plug-in connections can have upright pins, which allows for easy assembly and a stable connection, since the distributed plug-in connections can absorb the bending moments as a multiple connection. Preferably, the plug-in connections can have plug-in hole eyes that can be slid over one another and are then secured by the pins.

[0029] Advantageously, in a further development of the invention, the lifting function is also integrated into each of the two support frames, so that each support frame can independently move the tower upwards relative to the structure when climbing up and downwards when climbing down.

[0030] Advantageously, each support frame is provided with linkages for linking a lifting device of the lifting gear, so that all weight and load forces acting on the crane's tower can be transferred to the support frame, which performs the holding and shifting function. Via these linkages and the attached lifting devices of the lifting gear, all vertical loads of the crane—i.e., the dead weight of all crane components such as the tower, boom, ballast, guying, and drive components—as well as any hoist load linked to the hoist rope, can be transferred to the active support frame. This load can be intercepted by the support frame and transferred to the structure via its fastening devices. Thus, the support frame not only transfers all transverse forces and bending moments as described above, but also the vertical loads.

[0031] The lifting device attached to the respective support frame is attached or fastened to the tower at its other end or another section to enable the tower to be moved longitudinally relative to the support frame and, if necessary, secured in place. Flexible traction devices such as hoist ropes, chains, or belts can be considered as lifting devices. Alternatively, dimensionally stable tension rods can be used, or alternatively or in addition to traction devices, pressure devices such as hydraulic cylinders or spindle drives can be used to push the tower upward.

[0032] The lifting mechanism for adjusting the lifting means and thereby for moving the tower upwards or, conversely, lowering the tower downwards relative to the supporting frame can be designed in various ways. For example, when using a lifting rope, a rope winch can be provided to pull in or release the lifting rope between the supporting frame and the tower and thereby raise or lower the tower.

[0033] Such a hoist drive can be provided on each of the aforementioned support frames. Alternatively or additionally, the hoist drive can also be provided on the tower of the crane or at another location on the crane structure, which facilitates handling of the support frame, for example, when moving it upwards on the structure. On the other hand, mounting the hoist drive on each of the support frames allows for a conventional design of the crane tower without additional mounting struts or brackets for the hoist drive. In an advantageous development of the invention, at least one or each of the support frames can be designed to be placed on the tower transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tower and removed from the tower in order to enable the support frame to be moved from one tower section to another - for example, by skipping over another support frame positioned in between - or even to be repositioned on the tower in an already assembled state.For example, the support frame can have a U-shaped structure overall with a sufficiently large opening cross-section to be able to be pushed transversely onto the tower from one side. In the pushed-open position, the U-shaped support frame profile can then be closed, for example, by mounting and / or moving a support frame profile, so that the support frame can then enclose the tower on four sides or all sides. If necessary, it may also be sufficient to mount the sliding guide means provided on one side in a way that can be removed or repositioned, so that when the sliding guide means are removed or moved away, preferably on the side of the support frame facing the structure, the support frame can be pushed transversely onto the tower or removed transversely from it.

[0034] Depending on the strategy for moving the support frames while climbing the structure, it may also be sufficient to mount the support frames on the tower's longitudinal frame so that they can only be moved longitudinally along the tower. This is done if a support frame is not removed from the tower when moving it, but is only moved longitudinally along it. In this case, at least one or each of the support frames can form a closed, sleeve-like profile, for example, that can only be moved longitudinally along the tower or pushed onto or pulled off the tower.

[0035] Advantageously, when climbing the crane, only two support frames are used, which alternately hold and move the crane on the structure, and on the other hand are detached from the structure and relocated. In this case, the crane is at least temporarily held on the structure by only one support frame and moved relative to it, while the other support frame is inactive or is moved or relocated without being anchored to the structure. According to one process variant, the temporarily inactive support frame can be removed from the crane tower and kept ready until the tower has been moved upwards by the other, active support frame, or moved downwards during descent, preferably utilizing the maximum adjustment range offered by the active support frame for the tower.Once the tower has reached its predetermined adjustment path relative to the active support frame by moving it, the previously removed and ready support frame - or even a new support frame - can be mounted at a new location on the structure, in particular a little above the active support frame, on a different section of the tower and anchored to the structure, whereupon the previously active support frame can then be dismantled.

[0036] In an alternative procedure, however, the inactive support frame does not need to be removed from the crane tower, but can remain on the tower and be adjusted together with it relative to the active support frame that holds the tower to the structure. For example, the inactive support frame can be moved upwards together with the tower and then, once the tower has traversed the predetermined adjustment path, anchored to the structure. The previously active support frame can then be dismantled from the structure and / or detached from the tower, thus freeing up a further adjustment path for the tower and allowing the tower to be adjusted relative to the "new" support frame, i.e., the now active one that supports the crane.

[0037] Surprisingly, by designing a sufficiently stable support frame, even a large, massive tower crane can be held and secured to a tall, slender structure using just a single support frame for operation. This single support frame can firmly hold the tower root or the tower base area of ​​the tower crane's tower to the structure, so that the tower crane can extend upwards from the single support frame in a cantilevered manner for essentially its entire tower length or height, or can stand freely, without the need for additional cross bracing towards the structure to be erected. According to a further aspect of the present invention, by cleverly selecting the pivot point of the single support frame for operation, a comparatively significantly larger structure can be erected using a comparatively smaller tower crane.According to the invention, the support frame is attached to the structure in a middle third of the target height of the structure, so that during operation for the erection of the uppermost structural section or for equipping the uppermost structural section with plant components such as wind turbines, nacelles, etc., a lower third of the structure remains crane-free, so to speak, and no tower extends along the lower structural section and the tower crane only has to bridge the upper half or the upper third of the structural height, so to speak, or serve it with its lifting height.

[0038] Preferably, the upper third or upper half of the structure to be bridged by the tower crane, i.e., the height difference between the installation location of the support frame and the uppermost end of the structure, can be bridged partially by the tower and partially by the boom. For this purpose, the said boom can advantageously be designed as a luffing jib and can be luffed around a horizontal luffing axis into a more or less steep inclination position, so that the boom extends further upward from the top of the tower.

[0039] Preferably, for example, the tower can have a length or height that bridges approximately 50% to 90% or 60% to 85% of the said height difference, while the remaining 10% to 50% or 15% to 40% are then bridged by the luffed boom.

[0040] Preferably, during the erection and / or assembly of the uppermost structural section, the boom can be rotated about an upright axis of rotation relative to the rigidly mounted tower and can be luffed up and down about said luffing axis in order to control the working range of the load hook as desired and, for example, to precisely position equipment to be installed, such as rotor blades. In a further development of the invention, the boom of the tower crane can also be designed to be telescopic. Changing the length of the luffed boom, if necessary, allows for further refined positioning of the load hook's reach and thus the positioning of the equipment to be installed.

[0041] Surprisingly, despite the tower crane being mounted on a single support frame that rigidly holds the base section of the tower to the central section of the structure, very high construction heights can be achieved and equipment parts can be mounted in very high positions, for example the parts of wind turbines with rotor heights of 200 m or more.

[0042] For example, the tower crane can be mounted during operation with just a single support frame on plant towers that are well over 150 m high, or for example 200 to 250 m, whereby the support frame can advantageously be mounted in the range of approximately 40% to 50% of the maximum height of the structure to be erected. For a plant tower of, for example, 200 m, the support frame can be mounted at a height of approximately 90 m, so that the tower crane can then stand freely upwards over a height of, for example, 110 m without any additional cross bracing to the tower. As an alternative to the previously described climbing of the tower, the tower crane can also be mounted on the structure with just the aforementioned one support frame, whereby additional lifting equipment such as auxiliary cranes can be used.In particular, the tower crane's tower can first be mounted to the support frame with an upper tower section. Then, with the support frame attached to the structure, it can be pushed upward relative to the support frame until the tower's base section reaches the support frame and essentially its entire tower height is above the support frame. In this intended working position, the tower can then be locked or secured to the support frame.

[0043] Particularly in wind turbines, it can be particularly advantageous to attach the aforementioned support frame to an adapter piece that connects a lower tower section to an upper tower section. In modern wind turbines, it is common practice to erect the lower tower section as a concrete structure, for example in the form of a reinforced concrete ring or stacked reinforced concrete rings. The upper tower section, made of a steel structure, is then erected on this concrete tower base and rigidly connected to the concrete tower base by an adapter piece, for example in the form of an adapter ring or an adapter disc. The adapter piece is anchored to the lower tower section on the one hand with anchoring means and supports the upper tower section sitting on it on the other hand with bearing means.

[0044] This particularly stable adapter piece is preferably used to attach the tower crane or the single support frame.

[0045] Advantageously, detachable coupling pieces can be provided on the adapter piece, for example in the form of socket pin eyes, to which the support frame can then be coupled or bolted. These coupling pieces can remain on the adapter piece even if the tower crane is dismantled after the structure has been assembled and the support frame is removed.

[0046] The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0047] Fig. 1 - 5: a tower crane with a climbing device comprising two support frames for climbing a structure in different climbing positions, wherein according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention an inactive, unused support frame is removed from the tower and mounted on the tower and the structure when the tower has travelled through the maximum adjustment path relative to the other support frame,

[0048] Fig. 6 - 9: a tower crane with a climbing device comprising two support frames for climbing a structure in different climbing positions, wherein according to an alternative embodiment of the invention an inactive support frame is moved along with the other, active support frame on the tower when adjusting the tower,

[0049] Fig. 10: a schematic side view of a support frame of the climbing device from the preceding figures, showing its two spaced guide planes and the sliding guide means arranged therein,

[0050] Fig. 11 : a partial view of a support frame and the tower which can be moved relative to it, showing the lifting means for adjusting the tower relative to the support frame in two different positions of the tower,

[0051] Fig. 12: a side view of a supporting frame mounted on the structure, showing the detachable, positive coupling means between the supporting frame and the structure in the form of a socket bolt connection,

[0052] Fig. 13: a plan view of the supporting frame mounted on the structure, showing the detachable coupling means in the form of the socket bolt connections between the supporting frame and the structure,

[0053] Fig. 14: a schematic side view of the supporting frame mounted on the structure similar to Fig. 12, wherein an auxiliary crane is mounted on the supporting frame to support the tower crane for erecting and / or equipping the uppermost section of the structure on the supporting frame, and

[0054] Fig. 15: a side view of the tower crane mounted on the turbine tower of a wind turbine in its intended working position, held exclusively by a single supporting frame at the base section of the tower.

[0055] As the figures show, the tower crane comprises, in a manner known per se, an elongated, slender tower 2, which may be designed as a framework. For example, the tower 2 may comprise several longitudinal chords 3 connected to one another by a plurality of cross struts 4, so that the longitudinal chords 3 and the cross struts 4 together form a lattice-like structure (see Figure 10).

[0056] The tower 2 carries a boom 5 which can be rotated about an upright axis of rotation 6 by a slewing mechanism, wherein the tower crane 1 is designed in particular as a so-called top-slewing crane, so that the boom 5 can be rotated relative to the tower 2.

[0057] The boom 5 can extend horizontally, but the boom 5 can also be designed to be luffable or can be luffed up and down by a luffing mechanism in order to be able to be brought into various, more or less steep luffing positions or even into a horizontal boom position.

[0058] A hoist rope 7 runs from the boom 5 and can be pulled in and lowered by a hoist, whereby a load attachment device such as a load hook 8 can be hinged to the hoist rope 7 in order to be able to take up lifting loads.

[0059] The hoist rope 7 can, for example, run from the boom tip, or also run from a trolley which can be moved along the boom 5 by a trolley drive, so that the hollow point of the hoist rope 7 can be adjusted along the boom 5.

[0060] As the figures show, the tower crane 1 is mounted on the structure 9 to be erected, so that all forces and moments acting on the tower crane 1, such as its dead weight, the lifting load, and resulting bending moments, as well as wind loads, etc., are transferred to and absorbed by the structure 9. In particular, the tower 2 is not directly supported on the ground itself, but is attached exclusively to the structure 9 to be erected.

[0061] For mounting and fastening the tower crane 1 to the structure 9, a climbing device 10 is provided, by means of which the tower 2 can be held on the structure 9 and moved relative thereto in the longitudinal direction of the tower, ie in an upright direction, and by means of which the tower crane 1 can climb up and down the structure 9.

[0062] The climbing device 10 comprises two support frames 11, 12, each of which can be tilted up and down independently or by means of a tilting mechanism in order to be able to be moved into various, more or less steep tilting positions or also into a horizontal boom position.

[0063] A hoist rope 7 runs from the boom 5 and can be pulled in and lowered by a hoist, whereby a load attachment device such as a load hook 8 can be hinged to the hoist rope 7 in order to be able to take up lifting loads.

[0064] The hoist rope 7 can, for example, run from the boom tip, or also run from a trolley which can be moved along the boom 5 by a trolley drive, so that the hollow point of the hoist rope 7 can be adjusted along the boom 5.

[0065] As the figures show, the tower crane 1 is mounted on the structure 9 to be erected, so that all forces and moments acting on the tower crane 1, such as its dead weight, the lifting load, and resulting bending moments, as well as wind loads, etc., are transferred to and absorbed by the structure 9. In particular, the tower 2 is not directly supported on the ground itself, but is attached exclusively to the structure 9 to be erected.

[0066] For mounting and fastening the tower crane 1 to the structure 9, a climbing device 10 is provided, by means of which the tower 2 can be held on the structure 9 and moved relative thereto in the longitudinal direction of the tower, ie in an upright direction, and by means of which the tower crane 1 can climb up and down the structure 9.

[0067] The climbing device 10 comprises two support frames 11, 12, each of which is independently fully functional and capable of holding the tower crane 1 on the structure 9 and adjusting it relative to it. Accordingly, the tower crane 1 can be held on the structure 9 at least temporarily by only one of the support frames 11, 12 and adjusted relative to it, while the other support frame 11, 12 can be temporarily inactive and relocated to another position.

[0068] As Fig. 10 shows, each of the support frames 11, 12 can have a rigid structure, in particular in the form of a frame or support structure, in order to be able to hold the tower 2 of the tower crane stably on the structure 9.

[0069] Each of the support frames 11, 12 has fastening means 13 for fastening the support frame 11, 12 to the structure 9, and on the other hand a sliding guide 14 for displaceably guiding and holding the tower 2 in different sliding positions or height positions.

[0070] As shown in Fig. 10, the aforementioned fastening means 13 can, for example, be designed in the form of structural anchors that can be firmly anchored to the structure 9. Alternatively or additionally, other form-fitting fastening means, such as expansion clamps or wrap-around clamps, can also be provided as fastening means 13. These can be adapted to the shape of the structure to be erected and can be clamped or held thereto by friction. For example, in the case of a slender tower of a wind turbine, a wrap-around clamp spanning the tower can be provided as the fastening means.

[0071] Preferably, a plurality of fastening means 13 are arranged at a distance from one another on each support frame 11, 12 in order to anchor the support frame 11, 12 at a plurality of spaced-apart points to the structure 9, for example in the manner of a three-thread or a multiple-thread, cf. Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. The said fastening means 13 can in particular be designed in the form of positive-locking, detachable couplings which hold the support frame 11, 12 rigidly to the structure 9.

[0072] As Figures 12 and 13 show, the couplings mentioned can have mutually adapted and / or complementary coupling pieces 25, 26 on the one hand on the supporting frame 11, 12 and on the other hand on the structure 9, which can be placed on top of each other and / or one above the other and can be fixed in the intended coupling position.

[0073] In particular, the couplings mentioned can be designed in the form of plug-in pin couplings, each of which can have an uprightly extending plug-in pin, see Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. The coupling pieces 25 and 26 can each be designed in the form of plug-in hole eyes, which protrude from the structure 9 in the manner of flanges and / or are formed on the supporting frame 11.

[0074] It is particularly advantageous if the support frame 11 is fastened to the adapter piece 24, in particular exclusively to the aforementioned adapter piece 24, by means of which the tower lower part 9U and the tower upper part 90 are placed on top of one another and fastened to one another, cf. Fig. 15. The aforementioned adapter piece 24 can in particular connect the tower lower part 9U made of concrete with the tower upper part designed as a steel structure.

[0075] The aforementioned coupling pieces 26 can be provided on the outer circumference of the adapter piece 24, for example, protruding from it. Irrespective of this, the coupling pieces 26 can remain on the adapter piece 24, even if the tower crane is dismantled again.

[0076] The sliding guide 14 of the respective support frame 11, 12 advantageously comprises two guide planes 15, 16 which are spaced apart from one another, in particular arranged one above the other, in each of which sliding guide means 17 are provided which, on the one hand, prevent transverse movements of the tower 2 relative to the support frame 11, 12 and introduce transverse forces from the tower 2 into the support frame 11, 12, but on the other hand allow a movement of the tower 2 in the longitudinal direction of the tower according to the arrow 18, cf. Fig. 10, so that the tower 2 can be moved relative to the support frame 11, 12 in the longitudinal direction of the tower.

[0077] The aforementioned sliding guide means 17 can, for example, comprise guide rollers that can roll on the longitudinal belts 3 of the tower 2. Alternatively or additionally, sliding guide blocks can also be provided as the sliding guide means 17, on which the aforementioned longitudinal belts 3 can slide or slide along. The aforementioned sliding guide means 17 can be shaped to fit the longitudinal belts 3, for example, forming a hollow cylindrical envelope contour as a guide bed for the longitudinal belts 3.

[0078] The sliding guide means 17 in each guide plane 15, 16 engage on different sides of the tower 2 in order to prevent movements of the tower 2 in all directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tower.

[0079] The two guide levels 15, 16 of the respective support frame 11, 12 can be arranged one above the other at a distance from each other of, for example, one meter to seven meters or two meters to five meters or three meters to five meters.

[0080] In order to rigidly guide and hold the tower 2, the support frame 11, 12 can have a contour that encloses the tower 2 on at least three sides, in particular on the side facing away from the structure 9 and the two adjacent side surfaces. Preferably, however, the support frame 11, 12 can also have a particularly closed annular contour or sleeve contour that surrounds the tower 2 on four sides. In this case, the support frame 11, 12 always has a rope-like contoured tower receiving opening 19 that is open at the top and bottom and through which the tower 2 can pass.

[0081] In order to be able to adjust the tower 2 in the longitudinal direction of the tower relative to the support frame 11, 12, a lifting mechanism 20 is provided which is hinged on the one hand to the respectively active support frame 11, 12, i.e. anchored to the structure 9 and holding the tower, and on the other hand to the tower 2.

[0082] Preferably, each of the two support frames 11, 12 can be assigned its own lifting gear 20. Independently of this, the lifting gear 20 can have a lifting means 21, for example in the form of a cable pull, a chain pull, a belt pull, or even a lifting rod, wherein the said lifting means 21 is articulated on the one hand to the tower 2 and on the other hand to an articulation element on the support frame 11, 12. If a flexible pulling means such as a cable pull or a chain pull is provided, the lifting means 21 can be wound onto a cable or chain winch. If a rigid lifting rod is provided, a spindle drive, a rack and pinion drive, or even a hydraulic cylinder drive can be provided as the lifting gear drive 22 for adjusting the lifting means 21.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 11, the lifting means 21 can, for example, be in the form of a cable pull, on the one hand, articulated to the lower end of the tower 2 and, on the other hand, articulated to the support frame 11, 12, for example running onto a cable winch mounted there as a hoist drive 22 in order to be able to be pulled in and lowered, whereby the tower 2 can be displaced upwards relative to the support frame 11, 12 or, conversely, lowered downwards, cf. Fig. 11.

[0084] Advantageously, a hoist winch can be provided on each support frame 11, 12 as a hoist drive 22 in order to be able to lift the tower 2 from each support frame 11, 12.

[0085] As Figures 1-5 show, according to a first method variant, an unused support frame can be removed from the tower 2 and mounted thereon once the travel path provided by the other support frame has been exhausted. In particular, the tower 2 can initially be mounted on the structure 9 with only a first support frame 11, wherein the first support frame 11 is preferably spaced from the lower end of the tower 2 and, in particular, is mounted or positioned at an upper end section of the tower 2 and anchored to the structure 9 in this position, cf. Fig. 1.

[0086] By operating the lifting gear 20, the tower 2 can then be moved upwards relative to the first support frame 11, see Fig. 2, the first support frame 11 holding the tower 2 on its own and also moving it on its own. Once the structure has increased in height or has a construction height that exceeds the first displacement path, see Fig. 3, a second support frame 12 can be mounted transversely to the tower's longitudinal axis on the tower 2 and anchored to the structure 9, see Fig. 3. The assembly of the second support frame 12 also includes connecting the lifting gear 20, i.e. the lifting means 21 is articulated on the one hand to the tower 2 and on the other hand to the lifting gear drive 22 on the second support frame 12.

[0087] As a result, the tower 2 can be moved further upwards relative to the second support frame 12 in a further process step, see Fig. 4, wherein during this second travel phase and / or in a crane operation taking place therein, the tower 2 is held exclusively by the second support frame 12 on the structure 9.

[0088] The first support frame 11, which becomes inactive in the process, can remain on the structure 9, at least initially. For example, the tower 2 can simply be pushed or pulled upwards out of the first support frame 11, see Fig. 4.

[0089] If the travel path of the second support frame 12 is exhausted, the aforementioned first support frame 11 can be moved or a new support frame can be used and mounted above the second support frame 12 transversely to the tower's longitudinal axis on the tower 2 and anchored to the structure 9, see Fig. 5, wherein the lifting mechanism 20 is then remounted or the lifting mechanism 20 of the aforementioned first support frame 11 is articulated to the tower 2 in order to enable another upward travel step.

[0090] As Figures 6-9 show, according to an alternative method variant, the assembly and disassembly of the currently inactive support frame 11, 12 can also be avoided or the inactive support frame 11, 12 can also be taken along with the tower 2 to be moved.

[0091] As Fig. 6 shows, the tower crane 1 is first mounted with the lower of the two support frames 11 on the structure 9, wherein for this purpose both support frames 11, 12 are mounted on the tower 2 and are positioned at least some distance from the lower end of the tower 2, in particular are arranged at an upper end section of the tower 2.

[0092] The upper, ie the second, support frame 12 is inactive and not attached to the structure 9, see Fig. 6.

[0093] The tower 2 can then be moved upwards, held by the first support frame 11, see Fig. 7, whereby the tower 2 is temporarily held only by the aforementioned first support frame 11. The second support frame 12 is carried along on the tower 2 without a holding function and moved upwards with it.

[0094] If the structure 9 has reached the corresponding height or has already reached it, the previously inactive second support frame 12 can be anchored to the structure 9, see Fig. 8, when the travel path for the tower 2 previously provided by the first support frame 11 has been exhausted.

[0095] In order to be able to move the tower 2 even further upwards, the lifting mechanism 20 on the second support frame 12 is connected to the tower 2 in order to be able to push the tower 2 further upwards, see Fig. 9. The tower 2 can simply be pushed upwards out of the lower, now inactive first support frame 11, see Fig. 9.

[0096] Alternatively, it is also possible, during the travel step shown in Fig. 9, which is accomplished by the second support frame 12, to take the inactive first support frame 11 along with it. This can shorten the adjustment path compared to the second support frame 12, but on the other hand it can enable a further travel path if the said first support frame 11 is anchored again to the structure 9 in order to hold the tower 2, whereupon the second support frame 12 can then be detached from the structure 9 and adjusted upwards on the tower 2, whereby the constellation shown in Figures 7 and 8 is then achieved again. This enables almost infinite climbing on the structure 9 with just two support frames 11, 12, of which only one temporarily holds the tower 2 alone.

[0097] Once the tower 2 has been moved into the desired working position, the displacement of the tower 2 on the support frame 11 or 12 can be blocked, for example by locking, braking, or blocking the aforementioned hoisting gear 20. Alternatively or additionally, a separate locking device 23 can also be provided, which locks the tower 2 in a predetermined displacement position relative to the support frame 11, 12, for example by braking it with frictional engagement or preferably locking it with positive engagement. For example, such a locking device 23 can comprise a lug comprising a pivotable or displaceable bolt, which can preferably fall or move into a locking position automatically and / or under spring preload, see Figure 10. Such a separate locking device 23 can relieve the load on the hoisting gear 20 during crane operation.

[0098] Surprisingly, by providing a sufficiently stable support frame 11, 12, even a large, massive tower crane 1 can be held and fixed to a tall, slender structure 9 by means of only a single support frame 11, 12 for operation, wherein the only one support frame 11, 12 can firmly hold the tower root or the tower base area of ​​the tower 2 of the tower crane to the structure 9, so that the tower crane 1 can extend upwards in a cantilevered manner or can stand freely from the single support frame 11, 12 with essentially its entire tower length or height, without the need for further cross bracing towards the structure 9 to be erected.

[0099] According to a further aspect of the present invention, by cleverly selecting the pivot point of the single support frame for working operation, a comparatively significantly larger structure 9 can be erected with a comparatively smaller tower crane 1. According to the invention, the support frame is attached to the structure 9 in a middle third of the target height of the structure, so that during working operation for erecting the uppermost structure section or for equipping the uppermost structure section with system components such as wind turbines, nacelles, etc., a lower third of the structure 9 remains crane-free, so to speak, and no tower 2 extends along the lower part of the structure, and the tower crane 1 only has to bridge the upper half or the upper third of the structure height, so to speak, or serve it with its lifting height.

[0100] Preferably, the upper third or upper half of the structure 9 to be bridged by the tower crane 1, i.e., the height difference between the installation location of the support frame 11, 12 and the uppermost end of the structure 9, can be bridged partially by the tower 2 and partially by the boom 5. For this purpose, the aforementioned boom 5 can advantageously be designed as a luffing boom 5 and can be luffed around a horizontal luffing axis into a more or less steep inclination position, so that the boom 5 extends further upward from the top of the tower 2.

[0101] Preferably, for example, the tower 2 can have a length or height that bridges approximately 50% to 90% or 60% to 85% of the said height difference, while the remaining 10% to 50% or 15% to 40% are then bridged by the luffed boom 5.

[0102] Preferably, during the erection and / or equipping of the uppermost structural part, the boom 5 can be rotated about an upright axis of rotation 6 relative to the rigidly mounted tower 2 and can be rocked up and down about the said rocking axis in order to control the working range of the load hook in the desired manner and, for example, to be able to precisely position equipment parts to be mounted, such as rotor blades.

[0103] In a further development of the invention, the boom 5 of the tower crane 1 can also be designed to be telescopic. The length variation of the boom 5, if luffed, allows for further refined positioning of the load hook's reach and thus the positioning of the equipment to be mounted.

[0104] Surprisingly, despite the tower crane 1 being attached to only one supporting frame 11, 12, which rigidly holds the base section of the tower 2 to the middle section of the structure 9, very high construction heights can be achieved or equipment parts can be mounted in very high positions, for example the parts of wind turbines with rotor heights of 200 m or more.

[0105] For example, the tower crane 1 can be mounted during operation with only one support frame 11, 12 on plant towers that have heights of well over 150 m or, for example, 200 to 250 m, wherein the support frame 11, 12 can advantageously be mounted approximately in the range of 40% to 50% of the maximum height of the structure 9 to be erected. For a plant tower of, for example, 200 m, the support frame 11, 12 can be mounted at a height of approximately 90 m, so that the tower crane 1 can then stand freely upwards over a height of, for example, 110 m without further cross bracing to the tower 2. As an alternative to the previously described climbing of the tower 2, the tower crane 1 can also be mounted on the structure 9 with only the aforementioned one support frame 11, 12, wherein, for example, additional lifting equipment such as auxiliary cranes can be used.In particular, the tower 2 of the tower crane 1 can first be mounted with an upper tower section on the support frame 11, 12 and then, with the support frame 11, 12 attached to the structure 9, pushed upward relative to the support frame until the base section of the tower 2 reaches the support frame 11, 12 and essentially stands above the support frame 11, 12 with its entire tower height. In this intended working position, the tower 2 can then be locked or fixed to the support frame 11, 12.

[0106] Particularly in wind turbines, it can be particularly advantageous to attach the aforementioned support frame 11, 12 to an adapter piece 24, which connects a lower tower section 9U to an upper tower section 90. In modern wind turbines, it is known to erect the lower tower section as a concrete structure, for example in the form of a reinforced concrete ring or reinforced concrete rings sitting one above the other. The upper tower section 90, made of a steel structure, is then erected on this concrete lower tower section 9U and rigidly connected to the concrete lower tower section 9U by an adapter piece 24, for example in the form of an adapter ring or an adapter disc. The adapter piece 24 is anchored to the lower tower section 9U by means of anchoring means, and supports the upper tower section 90 sitting thereon by means of bearing means.

[0107] Preferably, this particularly stable adapter piece 24 is used for fastening the tower crane 1 or the only one supporting frame 11, 12.

[0108] Advantageously, detachable coupling pieces can be provided on the adapter piece 24, for example in the form of socket pin eyes, to which the support frame 11, 12 can then be coupled or bolted. These coupling pieces can remain on the adapter piece even if the tower crane 1 is dismantled again after the assembly of the structure 9 and the support frame 11, 12 is removed.

Claims

Claims 1 . Tower crane with a tower (2) which carries a boom (5) which is rotatable about an upright axis of rotation (6) and from which a hoist rope (7) for lifting a load runs, and with a climbing device (10) for climbing a building and / or climbing on a building under construction (9), wherein the climbing device (10) comprises a support frame (11, 12) which has fastening means (13) for fastening to the building (9) and a sliding guide for displacing the tower (2) in the longitudinal direction of the tower, and a hoisting mechanism (20) for lifting the tower relative to the support frame (11, 12), characterized in that the climbing device (10) comprises two support frames (11, 12), which are each designed to hold the tower (2) and the boom (5) mounted thereon alone on the building (9) and to guide them displaceably alone and in doing so to transfer all forces and moments acting on the tower (2) in the structure (9) so that one of the two supporting frames (11, 12) can be detached from the structure (9).

2. Tower crane according to the preceding claim, wherein a sliding guide (14) is provided on at least one or each of the support frames (11, 12), which has two guide planes (15, 16) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the tower, in each of which sliding guide means are provided for displaceably guiding the tower (2).

3. Tower crane according to the preceding claim, wherein all bending moments and transverse forces acting on the tower (2) which act transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tower can be introduced into the supporting frame (11, 12) via the said two guide planes (15, 16) and can be introduced into the structure (9) via the fastening means (13) of the supporting frame (11, 12).

4. Tower crane according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the sliding guide means (17) in each of the two guide planes (15, 16) guide the tower (2) without play and / or prevent transverse movements of the tower (2) in all directions extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tower relative to the support frame (11, 12), so that the tower (2) can be moved relative to the support frame (11, 12) exclusively in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the tower.

5. Tower crane according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the two guide planes (15, 16) of the respective support frame (11, 12) are arranged one above the other and spaced from each other at a distance of 1 m to 7 m or 2 m to 5 m.

6. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each support frame (11, 12) has a linkage element for linking the hoist and for transferring all vertical loads acting on the tower (2) and / or all loads acting in the longitudinal direction of the tower, including weight forces and load forces, so that each support frame (11, 12) in its active state absorbs all transverse forces, longitudinal forces and bending moments prevailing on the tower and introduces them into the structure (9).

7. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on each support frame (11, 12) a separate hoist (20) with a hoist drive (22) is mounted in order to retrieve a lifting means (21) articulated on the tower (2) and and thereby raise or lower the tower (2) relative to the supporting frame (11, 12).

8. Tower crane according to the preceding claim, wherein the lifting means (21) comprises a cable pull or chain pull or belt pull hinged to the tower (2).

9. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the support frames (11, 12) is designed to allow the tower (2) to be pulled out of the support frame in the longitudinal direction of the tower.

10. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the support frames (11, 12) is designed to be placed and mounted, removed and dismantled on the tower (2) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tower, wherein said at least one support frame (11, 12) preferably has a U-shaped mounting contour, in particular one open towards the structure (9).

11. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein in working operation of the tower crane (1) when lifting loads the tower (2) is held by only one support frame (11, 12) and fastened to the structure (9), wherein the tower (2) is held by said only one support frame (11, 12) at a tower base area and extends upwards from the holding frame (11, 12) in a free-standing manner without cross bracing to the structure (9) and carries the rotatable boom (5), so that all loads and bending moments are introduced via the tower base area into the only one support frame (11, 12).

12. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the boom (5) is designed as a luffing boom and can be tilted relative to the tower (2) about a horizontal luffing axis into an inclination position at an acute angle to the vertical, wherein the tower crane (1) is adapted to the structure (9) to be erected in such a way that the height difference between the support frame (11) mounted on the structure (9), which supports the tower crane (1) during erection and / or assembly corner of the uppermost structural part of the structure (9), until the uppermost structural part is bridged partly by the tower (2) and partly by the luffed boom (5), wherein preferably 60% to 90% of said height difference corresponds to the height of the tower (2) and 10% to 40% of said height difference is bridged by the luffed boom (5).

13. Tower crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (13) for fastening the support frame (11, 12) to the structure (9) have a plurality of socket pin connections arranged in two superimposed levels, each with an uprightly extending socket pin, wherein at least two socket pin connections are arranged spaced apart from one another in at least one of the levels.

14. Method for climbing a building (9) with a tower crane (1) by means of a climbing device (10) which has two support frames (11, 12) which can be fastened to the building (9) and which displaceably guide the tower (2) of the tower crane (1), characterized in that the tower crane (1) is held at least temporarily by only one of the support frames (11, 12) on the building (9) and is thereby displaced relative to the building (9).

15. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the two support frames (11, 12) alternately hold the tower (2) of the tower crane (1) alone on the structure (9) and move it relative to it, while a respective inactive support frame (11, 12) detached from the structure (9) is moved relative to the structure.

16. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein an inactive support frame (11, 12) not holding the tower (2) is placed onto the tower (2) and fastened to the structure (9) after the travel path of the tower (2) provided by the other, active support frame (11, 12) has been exhausted, transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tower and is fastened to the structure (9), whereupon the tower (2) is then held by the support frame (11, 12) newly fastened to the structure (9) and the other support frame (11, 12) is dismantled from the structure (9) and / or dismantled from the tower (2).

17. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective inactive support frame (11, 12) not holding the tower (2) remains mounted on the tower during adjustment of the tower (2) and is carried along by the tower (2).

18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tower (2) is held by only one of the support frames (11, 12) during operation of the tower crane (1) when lifting loads.

19. A method for erecting and / or equipping a structure (9), in particular in the form of a plant tower such as a wind turbine tower, by means of a tower crane (1) comprising a tower (2), a boom (5) supported by the tower (2) and rotatable about an upright axis of rotation (6), and a hoist rope (7) extending from the boom (5) for lifting a load, wherein the tower crane is fastened to the structure (9) by means of a support frame (11, 12), characterized in that the support frame (11) is fastened to a middle third of the desired height of the structure (9), and the tower crane (1) is held exclusively by said one support frame (11) mounted in the middle third of the height of the structure during the erection of an uppermost structure section and / or during the equipping of an uppermost structure section with equipment parts, in particular wind turbine parts,wherein the tower (2) is held at a tower base section on the supporting frame (11) in a bending-resistant manner and above the supporting frame (11) over its entire length without any guying or connection to the structure (9).

20. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the support frame (11) is fastened to an adapter piece (24) which is anchored on a lower structural part (9U) and on which an upper structural part (90) is erected, which upper structural part (90) is carried by said adapter piece (24).

21. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the lower structural part (9U) is formed as a concrete structure and the upper structural part (90) is formed as a steel structure, wherein the steel structure of the upper structural part is anchored to the concrete structure of the lower structural part (9U) by the said adapter piece (24).

22. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame (11) is rigidly but detachably coupled to the structure (9), wherein coupling halves (25) provided on the support frame (11) are brought into engagement with coupling halves (26) adapted thereto, in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

23. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein coupling halves (26) remaining firmly attached to the structure (9) are used even after dismantling of the tower crane (1) and the supporting frame (11).

24. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during the erection of the uppermost structural section and / or for equipping the uppermost structural section with an equipment part, the boom (5) of the tower crane (I ) is tilted relative to the tower (2) about a horizontal tilting axis into an inclination position at an acute angle to the vertical, so that the height difference from the supporting frame (11) in the middle third of the structure (9) to the uppermost structure section is bridged partly by the tower (2) and partly by the erected boom (5), wherein preferably 50% to 90% or 60% to 85% or 70% to 80% of the said height difference is bridged by the supporting frame (II ) to the top of the structure by the tower (2) and 10% to 50% or 15% to 40% or 20% to 30% of the said height difference by the erected boom (5).

25. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during the working operation of the tower crane (1) for erecting and / or equipping the uppermost structural section (9), the boom (5) is rotated relative to the tower (2) about the upright axis of rotation (6) and is luffed about a horizontal luffing axis, while the tower (2) is held rigidly by the support frame (11).

26. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein when mounting the tower crane (1) on the structure (9), first the tower (2) is mounted with an upper end section on the support frame (11) attached to the structure (9) and then the tower (2) is moved relative to the support frame (11) under sliding guidance is pushed upwards towards the supporting frame (11), whereby finally the tower (2) is fixed to the supporting frame (11) with a lower tower end section.

27. Adapter piece (24) for fastening a support frame (11) for fastening a tower crane (1) to a plant tower (9), wherein the adapter piece (24) forms a transition from a plant tower lower part to a plant tower upper part and has, on the one hand, anchoring means for anchoring the adapter piece (24) to an uppermost end section of the plant tower lower part and, on the other hand, bearing means for bearing and holding the plant tower upper part, characterized in that the adapter piece has, on its outer peripheral side, positive-locking coupling pieces (26) for the positive-locking, detachable coupling of the support frame (11) for the tower crane.

28. Adapter piece according to the preceding claim, wherein the anchoring means are concrete anchors, the bearing means are steel construction fastening means and the coupling pieces comprise socket pin eyes projecting at the edges.

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