Small crane

Abstract

To provide a small crane allowing one worker to install stone materials in a narrow space through which a unique vehicle cannot pass.SOLUTION: There is provided a foldable crane B which can be attached to and detached from a stone material transport vehicle A travelling with a pair of caterpillars, the crane being provided with an outrigger 21 that can be moved laterally relative to the travel direction of the stone material transport vehicle A. A lower end part of a fixed support 11 of the crane B is notched, and the outrigger 21 is passed through the notch. A drop rod 11c is dropped into an insertion hole 21a provided on the outrigger 21 through an insertion hole of a stopper fitting 11a fixed to the lower end part of the fixed support 11, and thereby the fixed support 11 and the outrigger 21 are fixed together. When an orientation pin provided below a rotating support 13 inserted into the fixed support 11 is inserted into a pin hole of a direction changing tool 14 fixed to the fixed support 11, the position of a boom 16 that connects to the upper part of the rotating support 13 is determined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a small crane that can be easily attached to and detached from the bed of a stone transport vehicle and is used for transporting, installing, and removing stone at sites where a Unic vehicle cannot pass. [Background technology]

[0002] The stones used for gravestones usually weigh over 100 kg, so they have traditionally been made to weigh around 2 tonnes using a mini crawler crane (now known as a "crab crane"), carried by two or more people, or worked on using a tripod by two or more people. Many patents and utility models have been filed for relatively small cranes used for installing and removing stone, and Patent Documents 1 and 2 are among them. Patent Document 1 discloses a device that can be folded to allow for efficient work. Patent Document 2 discloses a simple crane that is small, lightweight, and can be easily attached to and detached from the truck bed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Public Disclosure of Practical Use No. 167986-1980 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-273736 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The device proposed in Patent Document 1 is suitable for work in narrow work sites, but because it is moved using casters, it has the following problem: It cannot be moved using casters in places where the ground surface is sandy or soil, such as cemeteries. The invention of Patent Document 2 is attached to the bed of a truck, so it cannot be used in places where trucks cannot pass, such as narrow roads or stairs. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a small crane that can easily transport, install and remove stone materials at a site with narrow passages and stairs that cannot be passed by a Unic vehicle.

[0005] Incidentally, the transport, installation, and removal of stone materials has traditionally required two or more people. However, in recent years, the birthrate has declined and the number of working-age people has steadily decreased, making it an urgent issue to make it possible for one person to carry out the work. Therefore, it is desirable to have a system that allows one person to carry out the work easily and safely. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is as follows: This is a small crane that can transport, install and remove stone at sites where a Unic vehicle cannot pass (for example, narrow paths or stairs such as those in a cemetery), and is characterized by the fact that it can be attached, detached and folded to a stone transport vehicle that runs on a pair of caterpillar tracks, and is equipped with outriggers that can be moved sideways to the direction of travel of the stone transport vehicle.

[0007] Since it is intended for one person to work on it, it is essential that the stone transport vehicle does not lose balance and cause the stone to fall or chip. Depending on the location where the stone is being lifted or lowered, the work vehicle may tilt to the left or right. Therefore, the outriggers are designed to be easily movable sideways so that they can be used on the side that is more likely to tilt. The reason for using caterpillar tracks is that it is expected to travel on sand and soil and go up and down stairs.

[0008] It is advisable to fix the support pillar to the torii gate in front of the machine room of the stone transport vehicle using fixing hardware. The directional pin attached to the bottom of the rotating support, which is inserted through the opening at the top of the fixed support, can be inserted into one of the pin holes in the direction changer fixed to the top of the fixed support. This fixes the rotating support to the fixed support and determines the direction of the boom attached to the top of the rotating support. For example, after hanging a stone, the directional pin is removed and the rotating support is rotated around its axis, causing the boom to rotate accordingly. When raising or lowering the stone, the directional pin is inserted into the pin hole in the direction changer to determine the angle of the boom relative to the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0009] The outriggers can slide inside a pair of outrigger fixing frames provided on the bed of the stone transport vehicle, and the outriggers can be fixed to the outrigger fixing frames with outrigger fixing screws, thereby fixing the outriggers to the bed. The lower end of the fixed support strut may be notched, and a locking bracket may be fixed to the part where it abuts against the upper surface of the outrigger, and a drop rod may be inserted into both an insertion hole provided at the part of the locking bracket extending from the fixed support strut and an insertion hole provided in the outrigger. This fixes the outrigger to the fixed support strut and prevents the outrigger from moving or wobbling while the crane is in use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] Using the crane of this invention, one person can transport and lift up stones weighing about 100 kg in narrow spaces such as cemetery passages, which will help to alleviate the labor shortage caused by the declining birthrate. The crane can be assembled on-site and used to install and remove stone in the same way as a regular crawler crane. When not in use at the site to install or remove stone, the crane can be removed from the stone transport vehicle and the components of the crane can be folded, making it easy to handle and allowing it to be stored without taking up space when not in use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a stone transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a stone transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a small crane attached thereto; [Figure 3] 1 is a side view showing a state in which a chain block is attached to the boom tip of a crane according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a fixing bracket for fixing a fixed support column of a crane to a stone transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a direction changer provided at the upper end of a fixed pole according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outrigger portion of a crane according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a support column of a crane according to an embodiment of the present invention is fixed to an outrigger. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a side view of the lower end of the support column of the crane according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A crane according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The small crane of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, is basically an existing mini crawler used as stone transport vehicle A, with crane B attached. By devising new mounting fixtures for the attachment and fabricating new outriggers to maintain balance, a simple and safe small crane has been realized. Because it is based on a combination of existing commercially available parts, it is possible to provide cranes that stone contractors and others need at low cost in a short period of time.

[0013] First, the configuration of the work transport vehicle A will be described with reference to FIG. The work transport vehicle A comprises a pair of left and right caterpillar tracks 101, a loading platform 102 that rests on the caterpillar tracks 101, and a machinery room 103. The height of the loading platform 102 can be freely set because the caterpillar tracks 101 are able to rise and fall. The machinery room 103 houses a motor, battery, and other components (not shown) that operate the crane. A gate 104 is provided at the rear end of the loading platform 102 in front of the machinery room 103, and a fixed support for the crane B, which will be described later, is fixed to the horizontal part of the gate 104 with fixing brackets.

[0014] Next, each component of the crane B will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Figure 4, the fixed support 11 is fixed to the torii gate 104 of the stone transport vehicle A using fixing brackets 12, thereby attaching the crane B to the stone transport vehicle A. The fixing brackets 12 are U-shaped metal fittings, with their curved portions placed over the side of the cylindrical fixed support 11, and both straight ends 12a passing through through holes 104a drilled in the horizontal part of the torii gate 104, and the fixed support 11 being fixed to the torii gate 104 at the two ends using fasteners 12b.

[0015] The fixed support column 11 is a hollow cylinder that stands perpendicular to the loading platform 102. The rotating support column 13 is inserted through an opening at its upper end so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. A donut-shaped direction changer 14 is attached to the upper end of the fixed support column 11. The direction changer 14 is fixed to the upper end of the fixed support column 11, and as shown in FIG. 5, multiple pin holes 14a are formed at equal intervals on the same circumference. One or more direction setting pins 13a are attached to the lower end of the rotating support column 13, and any one of these pins 13a is inserted into any one of the pin holes 14a of the direction changer 14 to fix the rotating support column 13 to the fixed support column 11 (see FIGS. 5(3) and (4)). This determines the position of the support stopper 13b that is fixed near the lower end of the rotating support column 13. The support stopper 13b fastens one end of the support 15, thereby determining the position of the support 15 relative to the fixed support 11, and further determining the horizontal and vertical angles that the first boom 16, which connects to the support 15 at approximately the middle, makes with the support columns 11 and 13.

[0016] The position of one end of the support 15 is determined, and the other end of the support 15 is connected to one of a plurality of support connectors 16 a provided on the side of the first boom 16 . The first boom 16 is rotatably connected to the upper end of the rotating support column 13. The first boom 16 is a hollow square tube, and a screw 16b is provided on the side to fix the second boom 17 in a fixed position. The second boom 17 is inserted inside the first boom 16, and the second boom 17 can move relative to the first boom 16 in the longitudinal direction by an allowable amount.

[0017] As shown in Figure 3, a chain block 18 is hung from the other end of the second boom 17, and a stone clamp (not shown) is suspended from a hook 19 at the lower end from which the chain block 18 hangs. The first boom 16 is designed so that the second boom 17, which suspends the clamp, can be freely extended and retracted by adjusting the screw 16b, so the position of the clamp can be moved and adjusted relative to the floor surface. The height of the clamp can also be easily adjusted by operating the support 15. The support 15 comprises a hydraulic cylinder on the rotating support column 13 side and a plunger on the first boom 16 side, and the upper end of the plunger is connected to the first boom 16 via a support connector 16a.

[0018] As described above, crane B attached to stone transport vehicle A can be easily disassembled because its columns, supports, booms, etc. are fastened with bolts and nuts, and the columns and booms are inserted into each other. Also, because it is fixed to stone transport vehicle A with fixing brackets 12, crane B can be separated from stone transport vehicle A by removing fasteners 12b of fixing brackets 12. Because crane B can be disassembled into its individual components after separation, it is convenient because it does not take up much space when transporting it with a crane truck or storing it in a warehouse.

[0019] This embodiment is intended for use when a single person needs to transport and lift up stones weighing approximately 100 kg. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the stone transport vehicle A from losing balance and causing the stones to fall. For this reason, the crane B is equipped with outriggers 21. The outrigger 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0020] The outriggers 21 are long, thin rectangular pipes that are at least twice as long as the width of the loading platform 102. For safety reasons, they are made longer than the width of the loading platform 102. As shown in Figure 2, a pair of outrigger fixing frames 22 are fixed to the left and right sides of the rear end of the loading platform 102 using fasteners 24. The outriggers 21 are inserted inside the pair of outrigger fixing frames 22 in a state where they can slide laterally. An outrigger fixing screw 23 is inserted into a screw hole (not shown) provided on the top surface of the outrigger 21 through a through hole (not shown) provided on the top surface of the outrigger fixing frame 22 and tightened. This fixes the outrigger 21 to the outrigger fixing frame 22, and further fixes it to the cargo bed 102.

[0021] On the other hand, the lower end of the fixed support 11 is notched as shown in Figures 7 and 8, and a stopper metal fitting 11a is fixed by welding to the portion where it abuts against the upper surface of the outrigger 21. Insertion holes 11b are provided near both ends of the stopper metal fitting 11a extending outward from the fixed support 11 (Figure 7(1)), and as shown in Figure 8, drop rods 11c for securing the support are dropped into each of the two insertion holes 21a on the upper surface of the outrigger 21. This fixes the fixed support 11 and the outrigger 21 together. In this way, the outrigger 21 is not only fixed by the outrigger fixing frame 22 (see FIG. 6), but also reliably prevented from moving by the retaining metal fittings 11a fixed to the fixed support 11.

[0022] There is space below the outriggers 21, and depending on the condition of the ground, the loading platform 102 may tilt, causing the stone transport vehicle A to tip over. Therefore, if a support member 25 such as a jack or piece of timber is placed in contact with the underside of the outriggers 21, the height of the outriggers 21 can be freely adjusted to match the support member 25 by raising and lowering the loading platform 102. As the support member 25, a fixed-shape member such as a block of metal, hard plastic, or wood is suitable, but an irregular-shape member such as natural stone is not suitable. If there is a risk of tilting to either the left or right depending on the condition of the ground, it is advisable to make the outriggers 21 extend to the same length on both sides.

[0023] An example of use of the crane B of this embodiment will be described. Here, the case where stone is transported from a stonemason's shop to a cemetery and set in a predetermined place in the cemetery will be taken as an example. At the stonemason's shop, the stones and stone transport vehicle A are loaded onto a crane (normal 2-ton vehicle) not shown. When the stonemason arrives at the cemetery, a large area is selected and the stones in the crane's loading platform are loaded onto the loading platform 102 of stone transport vehicle A using the crane. A small crane B can be attached to stone transport vehicle A on-site, or it may already be attached. By the way, the width of the passageways in cemeteries is usually about 60 cm, and the machines that can be used are limited. In this embodiment, the stone transport vehicle A, which is 50 cm wide, travels on caterpillar tracks 101, so it can be loaded with stone and travel on sand or gravel. Since the ground surface of a cemetery is often made up of dirt and sand, gravel, or staircases, travel means other than caterpillar tracks, such as casters, are not suitable for passage.

[0024] When the stone transport vehicle A arrives at the location where it will be installed, it is supported on the ground using a step plate or similar, and small crane B is adjusted so that it is vertical. The length and angle of the boom are adjusted to assemble small crane B, and the stone is lifted with a chain block attached to the boom, and then it is manually rotated to the desired location. When rotating, the direction setting pin 13a is removed from the direction changer 14, and when raising or lowering the stone, the direction setting pin 13a is inserted into the pin hole 14a of the direction changer 14, allowing for safe operation. Furthermore, when lifting or lowering stone, for example, if the stone transport vehicle A is in danger of losing balance to the right, the outrigger 21 is moved to the right and a support member 25 such as lumber is inserted between the outrigger 21 and the ground to ensure safety. The above is an overview of the work involved, from transporting the stone to installing it in the designated location. The process of removing the stones and taking them home can be carried out in reverse order.

[0025] The above is just one example of an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the shape of the fixing bracket 12 is not limited to a U-shape. It is sufficient if the fixing support 11 can be fixed to the stone transport vehicle A. Furthermore, the direction changer 14 only needs to have the required number of pin holes on the same circumference from the axial center of the fixed support 11, and the shape is not limited to a donut shape. In short, the scope of the rights of the present invention is determined based on the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0026] The crane of this invention can solve the labor shortage problem by allowing one person to perform tasks that previously required two or more workers. It is also easy to use not only on narrow paths like cemetery passages, but also on narrow ground and slopes. Therefore, demand is expected to grow in the stonemasonry, construction, forestry, and other industries. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] A: Stone transport vehicle 101: Caterpillar 102: Cargo bed 103: Machine room 104: Torii B: Crane 11:Fixed support 11a: Anti-detachment fitting 11c: Falling bar 12: Fixing bracket 13: Rotating support 13a: Orientation pin 14:Direction change device 15: Support 16: First Boom 16a: Support connector 17: Second Boom 18: Chain block 21: Outrigger 21a: screw hole 22: Outrigger fixing frame 23: Outrigger fixing screw 24: Fastener 25: Support member

Claims

1. This is a small crane used for transporting, setting and removing stone, which can be attached to, detached from and folded up on a stone transport vehicle that travels on a pair of caterpillar tracks, and is equipped with outriggers that can be moved laterally relative to the direction of travel of the stone transport vehicle.

2. 2. A small crane as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a fixed support is fixed to a shrine gate in front of the machine room of the stone transport vehicle with a fixing bracket.

3. A small crane as described in claim 1, characterized in that a direction-setting pin provided below the rotating support that is inserted through an opening at the upper end of the fixed support is inserted into one of multiple pin holes in a direction-changing device fixed to the upper end of the fixed support.

4. The small crane described in claim 1, characterized in that the outriggers are slidable inside a pair of outrigger fixing frames provided on the bed of the stone transport vehicle, and the outriggers are fixed to the outrigger fixing frames with outrigger fixing screws.

5. A small crane as described in claim 4, characterized in that the lower end of the fixed support is notched, a locking bracket is fixed to the point where it abuts against the upper surface of the outrigger, and a drop rod is dropped into both an insertion hole provided at the point where the locking bracket extends from the fixed support and an insertion hole provided in the outrigger.

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