Extendable crane arm
The extendable crane arm with a mechanical tensioning device addresses space and interference issues by allowing simultaneous energy and data transmission within the boom extension, enhancing flexibility and reducing mechanical stress inspection needs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- EPSILON KRAN
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-01
AI Technical Summary
Conventional solutions for supplying power and data to devices at the tip of a telescopic crane arm face challenges such as limited space, increased weight, interference from electromagnetic fields, and the need for joint guidance with hydraulic piping, which restricts cable diameter and requires mechanical stress inspection.
An extendable crane arm with a mechanical tensioning device that supports supply piping inside the boom extension, allowing simultaneous transmission of electrical energy and data signals, eliminating the need for joint guidance with hydraulic piping and reducing mechanical stress reliance.
Enables efficient and space-saving transmission of both electrical energy and data signals while maintaining structural integrity and flexibility, avoiding the limitations of conventional methods.
Smart Images
Figure 2026073993000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to a telescopic crane arm, a crane having such a telescopic crane arm, and a vehicle having such a crane.
[0002] To drive the movement of the boom extension relative to the boom, a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit that receives the supply of hydraulic fluid via hydraulic piping is often used. The hydraulic piping usually has a metal braid for reinforcement on its exterior and thus functions as a mechanical spring.
[0003] The telescopic crane arm often has a device in the form of a sensor or a working tool at its tip. Currents must be supplied to these devices, and data exchange (at least unidirectionally from the sensor to the evaluation unit) must be ensured between these devices. Space is limited at the tip of the boom extension, and the lifting force decreases every time 1 kilogram is added. The supply piping should be arranged in a space-saving and protected manner as much as possible.
[0004] Conventional solutions include the following (see, for example, European Patent No. 3,472,089 (B1)). The supply piping is combined with and guided by the existing hydraulic piping. Through the mechanical initial stress in the hydraulic piping, it becomes possible for the supply piping not to hit or rub against other components.
[0005] This solution in which the supply piping is combined with and located inside the hydraulic piping protects the supply piping against external influencing factors, but requires mechanical initial stress from the hydraulic piping. When a cable break occurs in the system, both the hydraulic piping and the supply piping must be inspected. By being guided together with the hydraulic piping, the possible diameter of the supply piping is limited by the hydraulic piping. The use of a multi-pole supply piping is not possible.
[0006] Another conventional solution involves a wireless connection to the tip of the boom extension, which must be powered by a battery. Therefore, this solution requires space and weight at the tip. Electromagnetic fields can interfere with transmission. In wireless systems, interference is not easily detected.
[0007] The challenge is to provide a retractable crane arm, a crane having such a retractable crane arm, and a vehicle having such a crane, which avoid the shortcomings of conventional solutions.
[0008] This problem is solved by an extendable crane arm having the constituent elements of claim 1, a crane having such an extendable crane arm, and a vehicle having such a crane.
[0009] Such a retractable crane arm is at least, -boom - Boom extension - Supply piping - Mechanical tensioning device It has.
[0010] The boom has a bearing area for the boom extension.
[0011] The boom extension is movable so as to move out of and into the boom's bearing area, thereby causing its tip to protrude more or less from the boom, and the boom extension has a body that is at least partially in the form of a hollow profile.
[0012] The supply piping is suitable for simultaneously transmitting both electrical energy and data signals. It extends from the boom through the hollow section of the boom extension (i.e., inside the boom extension) to the tip of the boom extension, or at least to its vicinity, and is supported to allow for joint movement, and is constructed to such a length. Simultaneous transmission of electrical energy and data signals is possible because it does not require joint guidance with the hydraulic piping.
[0013] A mechanical tensioning device maintains the supply piping under mechanical tensile stress during movement. By providing a dedicated mechanical tensioning device for the supply piping, the need to utilize the spring properties of the hydraulic piping is eliminated. The supply piping can be laid independently of the hydraulic piping, thereby utilizing more space and maintaining the advantages compared to wireless solutions.
[0014] Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
[0015] In one embodiment, at least one mechanical tensioning device is intended to be located in the region at the tip of the boom extension.
[0016] In one embodiment, at least one mechanical tensioning device has at least one first tensioning portion fixedly coupled to a boom extension and at least one second tensioning portion fixedly coupled to a supply pipe, and the mechanical tensioning device has at least one force reservoir that forcefully biases the at least one first tensioning portion relative to the at least one second tensioning portion, thereby the at least one mechanical tensioning device is intended to keep the supply pipe under mechanical tensile stress during moving motion.
[0017] In one embodiment, at least one first tension portion and / or at least one second tension portion and / or at least one force reservoir is intended to be located in the hollow space of the boom extension.
[0018] In one embodiment, at least one force reservoir is configured in the form of a coil spring, and preferably at least one supply pipe is intended to extend to pass through at least one coil spring in proportion to its length.
[0019] At least one first tensioning portion of at least one mechanical tensioning device may have a sleeve-shaped area coupled to a boom extension, in which at least one coil spring is intended to be at least partially supported.
[0020] At least one supply pipe may be intended to extend through a sleeve-shaped area, preferably also through at least one coil spring.
[0021] In a mechanical tensioning device having at least one first tensioning portion and at least one second tensioning portion, the at least one second tensioning portion of the at least one mechanical tensioning device may have at least one coupling portion through which the at least one second tensioning portion is intended to be fixedly coupled to the supply pipe at at least one defined location along the supply pipe.
[0022] In this case, at least one coupling portion of at least one second tension portion may be intended to be configured as a cable terminal.
[0023] In one embodiment, at least one hydraulic pipe is provided that extends from the boom through the hollow profile of the boom extension to the tip of the boom extension, or at least to its vicinity, and is supported so as to be able to move together, and the at least one hydraulic pipe extends separately from at least one supply pipe and its at least one mechanical tensioning device. The at least one hydraulic pipe may be intended for supplying, for example, a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit capable of driving the movement. As an addition or alternative, the at least one hydraulic pipe may be intended for supplying a hydraulically driven work implement, which may be located, for example, in the boom extension. Typically, the at least one hydraulic pipe has a metal braid for reinforcement on its casing, so as to function as a mechanical spring, thereby eliminating the need for an additional separate mechanical tensioning device for the at least one hydraulic pipe.
[0024] In this case, the boom may be intended to have at least one separation point for at least one hydraulic piping, preferably in the form of a thin plate, and the supply piping is located at the separation point via a cable terminal.
[0025] In one embodiment, the supply piping includes at least, - Current cables for transmitting electrical energy, and data cables for transmitting data signals, or - At least one tri-pole cable for simultaneously transmitting electrical energy and data signals, or - A hybrid cable having at least one current cable and at least one fiberglass circuit for transmitting data signals. It is intended to have These embodiments enable the simultaneous transmission of electrical energy and data signals in a simple manner. If more than one cable is provided, these cables may be coupled in a common sheath coupled to at least one mechanical tensioning device, or they may be individually coupled to at least one mechanical tensioning device.
[0026] In one embodiment, at least one device - preferably a sensor and / or a working tool (such as a rotator) - is arranged in the region of the tip of the boom extension, and the device is intended to be able to be supplied with electrical energy by at least one supply pipe and to be able to transmit and / or receive data signals via at least one supply pipe. It is intended that the same device can receive a supply of current and transmit and / or receive data signals simultaneously, or that there are at least two devices, one of which can only receive a supply of current and the other of which can transmit and / or receive data signals. In either case, electrical energy and data signals are both transmitted simultaneously by at least one supply pipe.
[0027] In one embodiment of a crane having a telescopic crane arm, at least one telescopic crane arm is pivotally supported on at least one other crane arm, and at least one device to be supplied with electrical energy and / or data signals is coupled to the boom extension, and the mechanical tensioning device is - arranged on the boom extension, preferably in the region of the tip of the boom extension, or - arranged on at least one other crane arm, or - intended to be arranged on the surface or inside of at least one device (preferably the non-rotatable part thereof in the case of a rotator).
[0028] The telescopic crane arm is particularly preferably used in a cargo crane or a forestry crane.
[0029] The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0030] [Figure 1] An example of a telescopic crane arm is shown. [Figure 2]This shows a mechanical tensioning device. [Figure 3] This shows a mechanical tensioning device. [Figure 4] An example of a retractable crane arm is shown. [Figure 5] An example of a retractable crane arm is shown. [Figure 6] Detailed diagrams of an embodiment of an extendable crane arm are shown. [Figure 7] Detailed diagrams of an embodiment of an extendable crane arm are shown. [Figure 8] This shows a vehicle equipped with a crane that has an extendable crane arm.
[0031] Figure 1 shows - Boom 2 - Boom extension 3 - Supply piping 5 - Hydraulic piping 9 - Mechanical tensioning device This shows an extendable crane arm 1 having [the specified feature].
[0032] The boom 2 has a bearing area for the boom extension 3.
[0033] The boom extension 3 is movable so as to move out of and into the bearing area of the boom 2, thereby causing the tip 4 of the boom extension 3 to protrude more or less from the boom 2, and the boom extension 3 has a body that is at least partially made of a hollow profile. A drive device for driving the movement is not shown.
[0034] The hydraulic piping 9 extends from the boom 2 through the hollow profile of the boom extension 3 to the tip 4 of the boom extension 3, or at least to its vicinity, and is supported so as to be able to move together, and at least one of the hydraulic pipes 9 extends separately from at least one supply pipe 5 and its mechanical tensioning device.
[0035] The supply pipe 5 is suitable for simultaneously transmitting both electrical energy and data signals, and extends from the boom 2 through the hollow profile of the boom extension 3 to the tip 4 of the boom extension 3, or at least to its vicinity, and is supported to allow for joint movement, and is configured to such a length.
[0036] The mechanical tensioning device holds the supply pipe 5 under mechanical tensile stress during movement, and in this embodiment, it is located in the area of the tip 4 of the boom extension 3. - First tension portion 6 fixedly connected to boom extension 3 - Second tension portion 7 fixedly connected to supply pipe 5 - Force reservoir 8 that biases the first tension portion 6 relative to the second tension portion 7 with force. It has (see also Figures 2 and 3), thereby a mechanical tensioning device that keeps the supply pipe 5 under mechanical tensile stress during movement.
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the first tension section 6, the second tension section 7, and the force reservoir 8 are located inside the hollow space of the boom extension section 3.
[0038] The force storage device 8 is constructed in the form of a coil spring, and the supply pipe 5 extends through the coil spring according to its length.
[0039] The first tension section 6 has a sleeve-shaped area connected to the boom extension 3, in which the coil spring is at least partially supported, and the supply piping 5 extends through the sleeve-shaped area and also through the coil spring.
[0040] The second tension portion 7 has a coupling portion through which the second tension portion 7 is fixedly coupled to the supply pipe 5 at at least one defined location along the supply pipe 5, and the coupling portion is configured as a cable terminal in the illustrated embodiment.
[0041] The boom 2 is preferably provided with at least one separation point 12 in the form of a thin plate for two sections of hydraulic piping 9, and the supply piping 5 is located at the separation point 12 via a cable terminal 13.
[0042] In Figure 4, an extendable crane arm 1 is connected to another crane arm 10, and a device 11 in the form of a rotator is positioned at the tip 4 of the boom extension 3. In this embodiment, a mechanical tensioning device is positioned on the part of the rotator that cannot rotate relative to it.
[0043] In Figure 5, the extendable crane arm 1 is connected to two other crane arms 10, one of which is the main arm. In this embodiment, the mechanical tensioning device is located on the main arm.
[0044] As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, the boom 2 has separation points 12 in the form of thin plates for two sections of hydraulic piping 9, and the supply piping 5 is located at the separation points 12 via cable terminals 13.
[0045] Figure 8 shows a vehicle 14 having a crane with an extendable crane arm 1 based on one of the illustrated embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]
[0046] 1. Extendable crane arm 2 Boom 3. Boom extension 4. The tip of the boom extension 5. Supply Piping 6. First tensioning part of a mechanical tensioning device 7. Second tensioning part of a mechanical tensioning device # 8 force accumulator 9. Hydraulic piping 10 Another crane arm 11 Work Tools 12 Separation point 13 Cable terminals 14 vehicles
Claims
1. In the extendable crane arm (1), A boom (2) having a bearing area for the boom extension (3), A boom extension (3) that is movable so as to move out of and into the bearing area of the boom (2), the tip (4) of the boom extension (3) protrudes more or less from the boom (2), and the boom extension (3) has a body that is at least partially made of a hollow profile, A supply pipe (5) suitable for simultaneously transmitting both electrical energy and data signals, wherein the supply pipe (5) extends from the boom (2) through the hollow profile of the boom extension (3) to the tip (4) of the boom extension (3), or at least to the vicinity thereof, and is supported so as to be able to perform the moving motion together, and is configured to such a length, A mechanical tensioning device that holds the supply pipe (5) under mechanical tensile stress during the movement, A crane arm (1) having at least the following:
2. The crane arm according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the mechanical tensioning devices is located in the area of the tip (4) of the boom extension (3).
3. The crane arm according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the mechanical tensioning devices comprises at least one first tensioning portion (6) fixedly coupled to the boom extension (3) and at least one second tensioning portion (7) fixedly coupled to the supply pipe (5), and the at least one mechanical tensioning device comprises at least one force reservoir (8) that forcefully biases at least one of the first tensioning portions (6) relative to at least one of the second tensioning portions (7), thereby keeping the supply pipe (5) under mechanical tensile stress during the moving motion.
4. The crane arm according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first tension portions (6) and / or at least one of the second tension portions (7) and / or at least one of the force storage units (8) are located in the hollow space of the boom extension (3).
5. The crane arm according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein at least one of the force storage devices (8) is configured in the form of a coil spring, and preferably at least one of the supply pipes (5) is intended to extend to pass through at least one of the coil springs in proportion to its length.
6. The crane arm according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first tensioning portions (6) of at least one of the mechanical tensioning devices has a sleeve-shaped area coupled with the boom extension (3) in which at least one of the coil springs is at least partially supported.
7. The crane arm according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the supply pipes (5) extends through the sleeve-shaped area, preferably also through at least one of the coil springs.
8. The crane arm according to at least one of claims 3 to 7, wherein at least one of the second tensioning portions (7) of at least one mechanical tensioning device has at least one coupling portion through which at least one of the second tensioning portions (7) is fixedly coupled to the supply pipe (5) at at least one defined location along the supply pipe (5).
9. The crane arm according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the connecting portions of at least one of the second tension portions (7) is configured as a cable terminal.
10. A crane arm according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, comprising at least one hydraulic pipe (9) that extends from the boom (2) through the hollow profile of the boom extension (3) to the tip (4) of the boom extension (3), or at least to its vicinity, and supported so as to be able to move together, wherein at least one of the hydraulic pipes (9) extends separately from at least one of the supply pipes (5) and its at least one mechanical tensioning device.
11. The crane arm according to claim 10, wherein the boom (2) is preferably provided with at least one separation point (12) in the form of a thin plate for two sections of at least one hydraulic pipe (9), and the supply pipe (5) is provided with a cable terminal (13) at the separation point (12).
12. The aforementioned supply piping (5) is Current cables for transmitting electrical energy, and data cables for transmitting data signals, or At least one tri-pole cable for simultaneously transmitting electrical energy and data signals, A hybrid cable having at least one current cable and at least one glass fiber circuit for transmitting data signals, A crane arm according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, comprising at least the following:
13. The crane arm according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one device—preferably a sensor and / or work tool (11)—is positioned in the area of the tip (4) of the boom extension (3), the device is capable of receiving electrical energy by at least one of the supply pipes (5), and can transmit and / or receive data signals through at least one of the supply pipes (5).
14. In cranes, especially cargo cranes or forestry cranes, At least one extendable crane arm (1), and at least, - Boom (2) having a bearing area for boom extension (3), - A boom extension (3) that is movable so as to move out of and into the bearing area of the boom (2), wherein the tip (4) of the boom extension (3) protrudes more or less from the boom (2), and the boom extension (3) has a body that is at least partially made of a hollow profile. - A supply pipe (5) suitable for simultaneously transmitting both electrical energy and data signals, wherein the supply pipe (5) extends from the boom (2) through the hollow profile of the boom extension (3) to the tip (4) of the boom extension (3), or at least to the vicinity thereof, is supported so as to be able to perform the moving motion together, and is configured to such a length, Preferably, at least one of the extendable crane arms (1) is intended to be pivotally supported by at least one other crane arm (10) via a supply piping (5). A crane arm (1) having, A mechanical tensioning device that holds the supply pipe (5) under mechanical tensile stress during the movement, A crane that has a
15. At least one of the extendable crane arms (1) is pivotally supported by at least one other crane arm (10), and at least one device to be supplied with electrical energy and / or data signals is coupled to the boom extension (3), and the mechanical tensioning device is Preferably in the area of the tip (4) of the boom extension (3), At least one of the other crane arms (10), or On the surface or inside of at least one of the devices, The crane according to claim 14, which is positioned.
16. A vehicle (14), particularly a truck, having at least one crane according to any one of claims 14 or 15.