Power supply device, hook block of crane, power generation method, and power supply method

Abstract

To supply power by a hook block with a configuration which can be easily retrofitted to an existing hook block.SOLUTION: A power supply device attached to a hook block of a crane including a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and which rotates in accordance with winding and unwinding of the wire rope, the power supply device including: a roller that has an outer peripheral surface in contact with the sheave and that rotates by rotation of the sheave being transmitted from the outer peripheral surface; and a generator that generates power by rotation of the roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device attached to a hook block of a crane, a crane hook block equipped with this power supply device, a method of generating electricity using the hook block of a crane, and a method of supplying power using the hook block of a crane. [Background technology]

[0002] The hook block used in a crane for lifting loads is equipped with a sheave around which a wire rope is wound. The crane body is equipped with a winch device for winding and unwinding the wire rope, and the hook block is raised and lowered by winding or unwinding the wire rope with this winch device.

[0003] Various electrical devices such as position sensors, gyros, wind speed sensors, and lighting fixtures may be attached to the hook block or its vicinity. Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe inventions that give the hook block a power generation function in order to supply power to such electrical devices.

[0004] In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a magnet is attached to the sheave of the hook block, and a coil is installed close to the magnet. The magnet rotates together with the sheave, causing an alternating current to be induced in the coil, which is then rectified and charged into a storage battery, which then supplies power to the lighting fixture.

[0005] In the invention described in Patent Document 2, a generator is provided that generates electricity by being rotated by the rotation of a sheave shaft that is integral with the sheave of the hook block, and power is supplied from this generator to surrounding electrical equipment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-102168 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-147398 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The invention described in Patent Document 1 requires attaching a magnet to the sheave and arranging a coil at a predetermined distance from the magnet, which makes it difficult to apply to existing hook blocks.

[0008] Furthermore, the invention described in Patent Document 2 requires modification of the hook block to connect the sheave shaft to the generator, which makes it difficult to apply to existing hook blocks.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a configuration that can be easily retrofitted to the hook block of an existing crane, and that enables power supply from the hook block. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a power supply unit that is attached to a hook block of a crane having a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and that rotates in response to the winding and unwinding of the wire rope, and that includes a roller that has an outer surface that contacts the sheave and that rotates as the rotation of the sheave is transmitted from the outer surface, and a generator that generates electricity by the rotation of the roller.

[0011] According to the present invention, the roller is arranged so that its outer surface contacts the sheave, and electricity is generated by the generator as the roller rotates in accordance with the rotation of the sheave, so that the hook block can be easily retrofitted to an existing hook block and can supply power.

[0012] In the present invention, the sheave may have a groove on its outer circumferential surface for winding the wire rope therearound, and the outer circumferential surface of the sheave may be in contact with the inner surface of the groove.

[0013] Furthermore, if the roller is a cylindrical, cylindrical, or disk-shaped member and at least the outer surface is made of rubber, the friction force between the outer surface of the roller and the sheave will be increased, preventing the roller from slipping against the sheave and enabling the rotation of the sheave to be efficiently transmitted to the roller.

[0014] Furthermore, if the rotating shaft of the roller is connected to the generator and a support member is provided to support the generator on the hook block, the generator can be supported on the hook block by the support member, making it easier to retrofit the generator to the hook block.

[0015] In this case, if the support member is provided with a biasing member that presses the outer surface of the roller against the sheave via the generator, the friction force between the outer surface of the roller and the sheave will be greater, and the rotation of the sheave can be transmitted to the roller more efficiently.

[0016] Furthermore, if a storage battery is provided to be charged with the power generated by the generator, power can be supplied from the storage battery to external electrical equipment.

[0017] The present invention also provides a method for generating electricity using a crane hook block equipped with a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and which rotates as the wire rope is wound and unwound, in which a roller is provided which has an outer peripheral surface that contacts the sheave and which rotates as the rotation of the sheave is transmitted from the outer peripheral surface, and electricity is generated by a generator due to the rotation of the roller.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for supplying power to peripheral electrical equipment provided on or near a hook block of a crane having a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and which rotates by winding and unwinding the rope, comprising providing a roller having an outer peripheral surface in contact with the sheave and which rotates as the rotation of the sheave is transmitted from the outer peripheral surface, and supplying power generated by the rotation of the roller to the peripheral electrical equipment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, power can be supplied by the hook block in a configuration that can be easily retrofitted to the hook block of an existing crane. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a tower crane according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a power supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a tower crane 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the tower crane 10 comprises a post 12, a swivel frame 14 mounted on the top of the post 12, and a crane body 18 mounted on the swivel frame 14 and having a crane arm 16.

[0022] A wire rope 20 hangs down from the tip of the crane arm 16. A hook block 22 is attached to the lower end of the wire rope 20. The crane body 18 is provided with a winch device (not shown) that winds up and unwinds the wire rope 20.

[0023] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part B in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, hook block 22 includes a sheave 24 and a frame 26 that supports sheave 24 rotatably about an axis. Wire rope 20 is wound around the lower half of sheave 24. As a result, as wire rope 20 is wound up or unwound, sheave 24 rotates and hook block 22 moves up and down.

[0024] In this embodiment, a pair of hook blocks 22 are provided, and both hook blocks 22 are connected to each other by a connecting member 28. A hook portion 32 is suspended from the hook block 22 by a wire rope 30. A hook 34 is attached to the hook portion 32 for suspending an object to be lifted.

[0025] Therefore, by using a winch device provided on the crane body 18 to wind or unwind the wire rope 20 and move the hook block 22 up and down, the object to be lifted suspended from the hook 34 can be raised and lowered.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, a power supply unit 36 ​​is attached to the hook block 22. The power supply unit 36 ​​supplies power to the hook block 22 or peripheral electrical devices (for example, sensors such as position sensors, gyros, light-emitting devices, etc.) installed in the vicinity thereof.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the power supply device 36. As shown in Fig. 4, the power supply device 36 includes a pair of cylindrical rubber rollers 38, generators 40 provided corresponding to each roller 38, a support member 42 that supports the generators 40 on the frame 26, and a power supply unit 44.

[0028] The support member 42 is attached to the frame body 26, for example, by bolting, welding, or adhesive, and comprises a first arm 42a bent sideways on the upper side of the frame body 26, a second arm 42b extending downward from a portion of the first arm 42a above the sheave 24, a third arm 42c connected to the lower end of the second arm 42b and extending sideways, a pair of fourth arms 42d extending downward and rotatably connected to both ends of the third arm 42c in a vertical plane, and a spring 42e acting as a biasing member that biases the pair of fourth arms 42d in a direction separating them from each other.

[0029] The generator 40 is connected to a rotation shaft 45 of the roller 38. When the roller 38 rotates, the generator 40 is driven to rotate via the rotation shaft 45, thereby generating electricity.

[0030] A groove 25 is provided on the outer periphery of the sheave 24 to hold the wire rope 20 wound around the sheave 24 so that it does not come off. The groove 25 has a trapezoidal cross section with slopes 25a on both sides to make it easier to wind the wire rope 20 around the sheave 24.

[0031] The generator 40 is attached to the lower end of the fourth arm 42d so that the rotation axis 45 of the roller 38 is inclined at the same angle as the inclination angle of the slope 25a of the groove 25. As a result, the roller 38 is supported so that its outer circumferential surface 38a is in contact with the slope 25a of the groove 25. Since the roller 38 is provided on the upper part of the sheave 24, it does not interfere with the wire rope 20 stretched over the lower half of the sheave 24.

[0032] As described above, the fourth arms 42d are biased by the springs 42e in directions away from each other. Therefore, the rollers 38 are biased toward both the left and right sides in FIG. 4, and are pressed against the slopes 25a of the grooves 25. This, combined with the fact that the rollers 38 are made of rubber, allows the rotation of the sheave 24 to be efficiently transmitted from the outer circumferential surfaces 38a of the rollers 38 to the rollers 38 without slippage at the contact points between them. In other words, the rollers 38 rotate in unison with the rotation of the sheave 24 without slippage.

[0033] In addition, by supporting the generator 40 so that it can rotate in a vertical plane relative to the fourth arm 42d, the roller 38 may be automatically adjusted to assume a position that follows the slope 25a when pressed against the slope 25a.

[0034] The power supply unit 44 is attached to the frame 26 of the hook block 22 together with the support member 42. The power supply unit 44 includes a rectifier 46 and a storage battery 48. The power generated by the generator 40 is input to the rectifier 46 via an electric wire (not shown) and rectified, and then charged into the storage battery 48. Power is then supplied from the storage battery 48 to the peripheral electrical devices described above.

[0035] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the wire rope 20 is wound or unwound by the winch device provided on the crane body 18 to raise or lower an object to be lifted, the sheave 24 rotates accordingly. Because the outer peripheral surface 38a of the roller 38 is in contact with the sheave 24, the rotation of the sheave 24 is transmitted to the roller 38, causing the roller 38 to rotate, and the electricity generated by the generator 40 connected to the rotating shaft 45 of the roller 38 is charged into the storage battery 48.

[0036] Therefore, power can be supplied from the hook block 22 to peripheral electrical equipment without requiring maintenance such as charging or replacing the storage battery 48.

[0037] In addition, since maintenance such as charging or replacing the storage battery 48 is no longer necessary, the rectifier 46 and storage battery 48 can be sealed, preventing rainwater from entering the power supply unit 44 when the tower crane 10 is used outdoors.

[0038] Furthermore, the power supply device 36 of this embodiment is configured such that the generator 40, to which the rotating shaft 45 of the roller 38 is connected, is attached to the frame body 26 of the hook block 22 by the support member 42. Therefore, the power supply device 36 can be easily attached to the hook block 22 as an after-market accessory without modifying the existing hook block 22, thereby enabling power to be supplied from the hook block 22.

[0039] In the above embodiment, two pairs of rollers 38 and generators 40 are provided, but one pair or three or more pairs of rollers 38 and generators 40 may be provided.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the roller 38 is a cylindrical body made of rubber, but it may be a cylindrical body or a cylindrical body with at least the outer circumferential surface 38a made of rubber.

[0041] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power supply device 136 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 5, components that are the same as those in Figure 4 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, a power supply device 136 of this embodiment includes a disk-shaped roller 138 instead of the roller 38 of the first embodiment. A rotation shaft 145 of the roller 138 protrudes from both sides of the roller 138. The generator 40 is connected to the rotation shaft 145 protruding from one side of the roller 138 (the right side in Fig. 5). At least an outer circumferential surface 138a of the roller 138 is made of rubber.

[0043] The generator 40 is supported on the frame 26 of the hook block 22 by a support member 142. The support member 142 is attached to the frame 26 by, for example, bolting or welding, and includes a first arm 142a bent laterally above the frame 26, a second arm 142b extending downward from a portion of the first arm 142a above the sheave 24, a third arm 142c extending laterally and connected to the lower end of the second arm 142b so as to be movable up and down, a pair of fourth arms 142d extending downward from both ends of the third arm 142c, and a spring 142e that biases the third arm 142c downward. The spring 142e is interposed between the third arm 142c and a protrusion 142f provided on the second arm 142b.

[0044] The generator 40 is attached to the lower end of one of the fourth arms 142d so that the rotation shaft 145 of the roller 138 faces sideways. The rotation shaft 145 protruding from the other side surface of the roller 138 is rotatably supported by the lower end of the other fourth arm 142d.

[0045] According to the above configuration, the outer peripheral surface 138a of the roller 138 comes into contact with the bottom surface 25b of the groove 25 of the sheave 24, and the outer peripheral surface 138a of the roller 138 is pressed against the bottom surface 25b of the groove 25 of the sheave 24 by the biasing force of the spring 142e. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the rotation of the sheave 24 is transmitted from the outer peripheral surface 138a to the roller 138, and the roller 138 rotates along with the sheave 24 without slipping. As a result, the generator 40, to which the rotating shaft 145 of the roller 138 is connected, generates electricity, and the generated power charges the storage battery 48, so that power can be supplied to peripheral electrical devices without requiring maintenance such as charging or replacing the storage battery 48.

[0046] Furthermore, since the power supply unit 136 is configured such that the generator 40, to which the rotating shaft 145 of the roller 138 is connected, is attached to the frame body 26 of the hook block 22 by the support member 142, the power supply unit 136 can be easily attached to the hook block 22 as an after-market accessory without modifying the existing hook block 22, thereby enabling power to be supplied from the hook block 22.

[0047] In the above-described embodiments, the arrangement of the springs 42e, 142e is not limited to that described above, and any configuration may be used as long as it can urge the rollers 38, 138 toward the grooves 25 of the sheave 24. Furthermore, if sufficient frictional force can be secured to rotate the rollers 38, 138 together with the sheave 24, the rollers 38, 138 may be pressed against the grooves 25 of the sheave 24 by their own weights, without using the springs 42e, 142e.

[0048] Furthermore, the support members 42, 142 are not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, but may have any configuration that can hold the rollers 38, 138 so that the outer circumferential surfaces 38a, 138a contact the grooves 25 of the sheaves 24.

[0049] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the material of at least the outer peripheral surfaces 38a, 138a of the rollers 38, 138 is rubber, but it is not limited to rubber and can be any material having a coefficient of friction that allows the rollers 38, 138 to rotate together without slipping when the sheave 24 rotates.

[0050] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, a pair of hook blocks 22 are provided, but a single hook block 22 may also be provided. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the hook portion 32 equipped with the hook 34 is suspended from the hook block 22, but this is not limited to this, and the hook 34 may be attached directly to the hook block 22.

[0051] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the present invention has been described as being applied to the hook block of a tower crane, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to any type of crane equipped with a hook block. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10. Tower Crane 12 posts 14 Swivel frame 16 Crane Arm 18 Crane body 20 Wire Rope 22 Hook Block 24 Sheaves 25 Groove 25a slope 25b Bottom 26 Frame 28 Connecting member 30 Wire Rope 32 Hook part 34 Hook 36, 136 power supply 38, 138 Laura 38a, 138a outer surface 40 Generator 42, 142 Support member 42a, 142a 1st arm 42b, 142b 2nd arm 42c, 142c 3rd arm 42d, 142d 4th arm 42e, 142e spring 44 Power supply section 45, 145 rotation axis 46 Rectifier 48 Storage battery 142f Protrusion 145 Rotational Axis

Claims

1. A power supply device attached to a hook block of a crane having a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and which rotates in response to winding and unwinding of the wire rope, a roller having an outer circumferential surface in contact with the sheave and rotating when rotation of the sheave is transmitted from the outer circumferential surface; a generator that generates electricity by rotation of the roller; A power supply device comprising:

2. 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sheave has a groove on its outer circumferential surface for winding the wire rope therearound, and the outer circumferential surface of the sheave contacts the inner surface of the groove.

3. 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the roller is a columnar, cylindrical, or disk-shaped member, at least an outer circumferential surface of which is made of rubber.

4. The rotation shaft of the roller is connected to the generator, The power supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a support member for supporting the generator on the hook block.

5. 5. The power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the support member includes a biasing member that presses the outer circumferential surface of the roller against the sheave via the generator.

6. The power supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage battery that is charged with the electric power generated by the generator.

7. A crane hook block equipped with the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for generating electricity using a hook block of a crane equipped with a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and which rotates by winding and unwinding the wire rope, a roller having an outer circumferential surface in contact with the sheave and rotated by the rotation of the sheave being transmitted from the outer circumferential surface; A power generation method in which a generator generates electricity by rotating the roller.

9. A method for supplying power to peripheral electrical equipment provided on a hook block of a crane having a sheave around which a wire rope is wound and which rotates by winding and unwinding the wire rope, or provided in the vicinity of the hook block, a roller having an outer circumferential surface in contact with the sheave and rotated by the rotation of the sheave being transmitted from the outer circumferential surface; A power supply method for supplying power generated by the rotation of the roller to the peripheral electrical device.

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