Crane hook position alarm device

Abstract

To provide a crane hook position warning device that can easily and reliably confirm that the positional relationship between a hook and a hoist is perpendicular.SOLUTION: A crane hook position warning device according to an embodiment comprises a light emitter including a light source, and a light receiver including a light receiving element disposed opposite to the light source and outputting a signal that becomes active upon receiving light emitted from the light source. The light emitter includes a first case that houses the light source so as to be able to emit light, a plumb bob provided to extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the light is emitted, and a second case movably supporting the first case so that the direction of the light emitted from the light source is parallel to the extending direction of the plumb bob.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a crane hook position warning device. [Background technology]

[0002] Overhead cranes are used to move heavy objects in factories and other locations. In the hoist of an overhead crane, the load is secured to the hook at the end of the rope that is reeled out. The task of securing the load to the hook is called slinging. During slinging, if the hook and hoist are not positioned nearly perpendicularly, the load may swing when it is lifted off the ground. If the load swings too much, it may fall or the mechanical stress on the hoist and rope may become excessive, leading to accidents or equipment malfunctions.

[0003] For this reason, the worker who lifts the load, as well as the signal person, must visually check that the hook and hoist are vertical before lifting the load. Because this check relies on the signal person's visual inspection, depending on the signal person's experience and the position from which they look, the hook and hoist may be judged to be vertical even when they are not in the correct position, which can cause problems such as the load swinging when lifting off the ground and leading to an accident.

[0004] There are known technologies for avoiding danger by informing the surroundings that a crane is in operation (for example, Patent Document 1, etc.), and technologies for detecting and correcting the vertical positions of the hoist and hook (for example, Patent Document 2, etc.). However, these technologies are large and complex in scale in their configurations and structures, and therefore it is not easy to actually introduce them to the site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-294596 [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-149943 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present invention provide a crane hook position warning device that can easily and reliably verify perpendicular hook to hoist positioning. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention includes a light emitter that is installed on a hook for slinging a load to be moved and includes a light source, and a light receiver that is installed on a hoist installed on the ceiling side of the hook via a rope and that is disposed facing the light source and includes a light receiving element that outputs a signal that becomes active by receiving light emitted from the light source. The light emitter includes a first case that houses the light source so that it can emit light, a plumb bob that is provided so as to extend in the opposite direction to the emission direction of the light, and a second case that movably supports the first case so that the emission direction of the light from the light source is parallel to the extension direction of the plumb bob. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the embodiment, a crane hook position warning device is provided that can easily and reliably confirm that the positional relationship between the hook and the hoist is perpendicular. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a receiver that is a part of the crane hook position warning device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a light emitter that is part of a crane hook position warning device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of using the crane hook position alarm device according to an embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the relationship between the thickness and width of each part, the size ratio between parts, etc. are not necessarily the same as in reality. Even when the same part is shown, the dimensions and ratios of each part may be different depending on the drawing. In this specification and each drawing, elements similar to those described above with reference to the previous drawings are given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a receiver that is a part of a crane hook position warning device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a light emitter that is part of a crane hook position warning device according to an embodiment. As will be described later in relation to FIG. 3, the crane hook position warning device 1 according to the embodiment includes a receiver 10 and a light emitter 20. The receiver 10 is installed on the hoist 101 side, and the light emitter 20 is installed on the hook 102 side. The light receiving section of the receiver 10 faces the light emitting section of the light emitter 20, and the receiver 10 receives the light emitted by the light emitter 20. The light receiving section of the receiver faces vertically downward, and the light emitting section of the light emitter 20 faces vertically upward, and the receiver 10 receives the light emitted by the light emitter 20, whereby the crane hook position warning device 1 detects that the positions of the hoist 101 and the hook 102 are vertical. The crane hook position warning device 1 notifies the crane operator of the presence or absence of a vertical positional relationship by means of sound or visual appeal.

[0012] The configurations of the optical receiver 10 and the optical emitter 20 will now be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 1, the receiver 10 includes a light receiving element 11, a control circuit 12, and a speaker 13. The receiver 10 covers the light receiving element 11 with a transparent case 14 so as to receive light from the light emitter 20. The control circuit 12 and the speaker 13 are housed in a case 15. The transparent case 14 is provided at the bottom of the case 15, and when the receiver 10 is installed on the hoist 101, the light receiving element 11 is provided within the transparent case 14 so that the normal line of the light receiving surface is approximately aligned vertically downward.

[0013] An appropriate light receiving element 11 is selected according to the characteristics, such as the wavelength, of the light emitted from the light emitter 20. When the light emitted from the light emitter 20 is visible light, a photodiode for visible light or the like is applied to the light receiving element 11. When the light receiving element 11 receives light from the light emitter 20, it outputs a light receiving signal which is an active electrical signal.

[0014] The control circuit 12 is connected to the light receiving element 11 and the speaker 13. The control circuit 12 receives a light receiving signal from the light receiving element 11. The control circuit 12 generates an alarm signal when the light receiving signal is inactive, and ends the generation of the alarm signal when the light receiving signal becomes active. The control circuit 12 outputs the generated alarm signal to the speaker 13, which outputs an alarm sound. The control circuit 12 may output an announcement or the like by voice synthesis from the speaker 13 instead of the alarm signal. Also, instead of or in addition to the alarm sound or sound, a red light or the like may be turned on when the light receiving signal is inactive to provide visual information.

[0015] Power is supplied from an external source to the control circuit 12. The power supply from the outside can be, for example, a power supply for a hoist. Of course, the control circuit 12 can be operated not only by the power supply from the outside, but also by an internal power source such as a battery.

[0016] 2, the light emitter 20 includes a light emitting element 21 and a drive circuit 22. The light emitting element 21 is connected to the drive circuit 22. A power source is connected to the drive circuit 22, and the drive circuit 22 operates to cause the light emitting element 21 to emit light when supplied with power. The power source may be supplied from an external source, or may be provided by a dry cell, a secondary cell, or the like.

[0017] The light emitting element 21 has light characteristics corresponding to the light receiving characteristics of the light receiving element 11. Preferably, the light emitting element 21 emits visible light. The light emitting element 21 is, for example, a light emitting diode that emits white light, and preferably has a narrow light distribution angle characteristic. By making the light emitted from the light emitting element 21 visible light, as will be described in the actual usage method later, the positional deviation between the light receiver 10 and the light emitter 20 can be easily visually recognized. In addition, by making the light emitting element 21 have a narrow light distribution angle characteristic, it becomes easy to apply to sites such as factories where the height to the hoist 101 varies.

[0018] The light emitter 20 further includes a movable case 23, a plumb bob 24, and a case 25. The movable case 23 is a case that houses the light emitting element 21 and the drive circuit 22. The plumb bob 24 is provided at the bottom of the movable case 23 facing vertically downward. The upper surface of the movable case 23 is transparent so that the light emitted from the light emitting element 21 can pass through.

[0019] Movable case (first case) 23 has a semispherical sliding surface on the opposite side to the side where light emitting element 21 radiates light vertically upward. Plumb bob 24 is provided at the lower end of the sliding surface.

[0020] The case (second case) 25 movably supports the movable case 23 on the upper part of the case 25 and has a space in which the plumb bob 24 can swing freely. The case 25 includes a sliding part 25a and a weight storage part 25b, and the sliding part 25a is disposed on the upper part of the weight storage part 25b. The sliding part 25a has a semispherical concave sliding surface. An opening for the plumb bob 24 to swing is provided at approximately the center of the sliding surface when viewed from above. The weight storage part 25b is provided so as to be connected to the opening. The radius of the semispherical concave surface of the sliding part 25a is set to be approximately the same as or slightly larger than the radius of the semispherical surface of the movable case 23.

[0021] The sliding surface of the movable case 23 is arranged to freely slide in contact with the sliding surface of the sliding portion 25a. The hemispherical sliding surface and the hemispherical concave sliding surface can freely slide against each other. Since the plumb bob 24 extends vertically downward, the light emitted by the light emitting element 21 housed in the movable case 23 is parallel to the extending direction of the plumb bob 24. Therefore, the light emission direction is always vertically upward even if the case 25 is tilted slightly.

[0022] As in this example, the connection part 26 is provided on the side of the weight storage part 25b. The connection part 26 is provided for fixing the light emitter 20 to the hook. A magnet, for example, is provided on the surface of the connection part 26 opposite the weight storage part 25b in order to connect to the hook 102. As long as it can be connected to the hook 102, it is not limited to a magnet, and double-sided tape, a suction cup, etc. may also be used.

[0023] A method of using the crane hook position alarm device 1 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of using the crane hook position warning device according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the hoist 101 is connected to an overhead crane. The overhead crane is connected to a rail provided on the ceiling C, and the overhead crane and hoist 101 can move two-dimensionally on the ceiling C. The overhead crane and hoist 101 can move on the ceiling C by operating a remote control.

[0024] The hook 102 is let out from the hoist 101 by a rope 103 and is slung onto a load 200 placed on a floor surface G.

[0025] The optical receiver 10 is disposed and fixed, for example, to the bottom surface of the hoist 101. The optical receiver 10 is disposed with the transparent case 14 facing downward so as to be able to receive light emitted from below.

[0026] The light emitter 20 is disposed, for example, on the side surface of the hook 102, and fixed to the hook 102 by a connection part 26. The light emitter 20 is disposed so that a movable case housing the light emitting element 21 faces upward, and can emit light vertically upward. In this case, the light emitted from the light emitter 20 is directed so that the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 21 faces vertically upward by the plumb bob 24, so that the light emitter 20 does not need to be disposed exactly vertically upward.

[0027] When the power to the receiver 10 and the light emitter 20 are turned on, if the hoist 101 and hook 102 are not positioned vertically as shown in this figure, the light emitted vertically upward from the light emitter 20 will not reach the receiver 10, causing the receiver 10 to output an alarm sound.

[0028] The operator of the overhead crane moves the overhead crane and hoist 101 by operating a remote control.

[0029] The operator moves the overhead crane and the hoist 101 until the output of the alarm sound is stopped.

[0030] The operator stops the movement of the overhead crane and hoist 101 at the position where the output of the alarm sound stops.

[0031] In this manner, the crane hook position warning device 1 according to the embodiment can make the positions of the hoist 101 and the hook 102 vertical.

[0032] The effects of the crane hook position warning device 1 according to the embodiment will be described. The crane hook position warning device 1 according to the embodiment includes a receiver 10 and a light emitter 20, and the light receiver 10 cancels the alarm state when it receives light from vertically below. The light emitter 20 can emit light vertically upward. Therefore, by installing the receiver 10 on the upper hoist 101 and the light emitter 20 on the lower hook 102, the vertical arrangement of the positions of the hoist 101 and the hook 102 can be easily and reliably detected.

[0033] There is known a technology (Patent Document 2, etc.) that detects whether the positions of the hoist and hook are perpendicular, and automatically corrects the position of the hoist if they are not perpendicular. However, such a technology requires adding a new structure to the overhead crane for detecting the position of the hoist, and applying this technology requires a great deal of cost and time. In addition, it is difficult to apply such a technology to existing factories, etc.

[0034] In contrast, in the crane hook position warning device 1 according to the embodiment, the light receiver 10 and the light emitter 20 can be physically separated by utilizing the straightness of light, and can be installed on the hoist 101 and the hook 102, respectively. Therefore, it can be easily applied to the site without requiring a lot of cost and time.

[0035] In the crane hook position warning device 1 according to the embodiment, the light emitter 20 is configured to emit light in the direction opposite to the extension direction of the plumb bob 24, so it is easy to set the straight-traveling light in a direction parallel to the vertical direction. Therefore, the light emitter 20 can be easily and reliably emitted vertically upward without having to choose a place to install it.

[0036] In the above specific example, the light receiver 10 is installed on the hoist 101 side and the light emitter 20 is installed on the hook 102 side, but the light emitter may be installed on the hoist 101 side and the light receiver on the hook 102 side. In that case, the light emitting element in the light emitter is arranged to face vertically downward, and the light receiving element in the light receiver is arranged to face vertically upward. Also, a plumb bob is provided on the opposite side to the light receiving surface so that the light receiving surface of the light receiving element faces directly vertically upward.

[0037] In the above-mentioned specific example, the receiver 10 stops the alarm output by receiving the light emitted from the light emitter 20, but the receiver 10 may output an alarm by receiving the light emitted from the light emitter 20. The alarm output method may be switched on the receiver 10 side. The same effect can be obtained by switching the vertical positional relationship of the light emitter and the receiver. Either method can be selected depending on the situation at the site.

[0038] In this manner, a crane hook position warning device can be realized that can easily and reliably confirm that the positional relationship between the hook and the hoist is perpendicular.

[0039] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...Crane hook position warning device, 10...Light receiver, 11...Light receiving element, 12...Control circuit, 13...Speaker, 14...Transparent case, 15...Case, 20...Light emitter, 21...Light emitting element, 22...Drive circuit, 23...Movable case, 24...Plumb bob, 25...Case, 26...Connection, 101...Hoist, 102...Hook, 103...Rope

Claims

1. A light emitter including a light source is attached to a hook for slinging a load to be moved; a light receiver that is attached to a hoist provided on the ceiling side via a rope to the hook, and includes a light receiving element that is disposed opposite the light source and outputs a signal that becomes active by receiving light emitted from the light source; Equipped with The light emitter is a first case that houses the light source so as to be capable of emitting light; A plumb bob extending in a direction opposite to the light emission direction; a second case that movably supports the first case such that a direction of emission of light from the light source is parallel to an extension direction of the plumb bob; Including crane hook position alarm device.

2. A light emitter including a light source, the light emitter being installed on a hoist installed on the ceiling side; a light receiver that is connected to the hoist via a rope, is installed on a hook that slings a load to be moved, is disposed opposite the light source, and includes a light receiving element that outputs an active signal by receiving light emitted from the light source; Equipped with The receiver is a third case that houses the light receiving element so as to be capable of receiving light; A plumb bob extending in a normal direction of the light receiving surface on which the light is incident; a fourth case that movably supports the third case so that a normal direction of the light receiving surface is parallel to an extending direction of the plumb bob; Including crane hook position alarm device.

3. 3. The crane hook position alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the optical receiver outputs an alarm when the signal is inactive, and stops outputting the alarm when the signal is active.

4. 3. The crane hook position alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the optical receiver outputs an alarm when the signal is active, and stops outputting the alarm when the signal is inactive.

5. 3. The crane hook position alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is capable of selecting whether to output an alarm when the signal is active or when the signal is inactive.

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