Removable Ballast for Crane Transport Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-erecting cranes face challenges in stabilizing the convoy during transport due to the placement of ballasts on the rotating platform, which limits the permissible mass and affects the behavior of the convoy on the road, and there is a need to balance the loads during transport without increasing the load on the crane wheels.
Innovation Solution
A self-erecting crane with a removable ballast element that is temporarily moored to the mast during transport and mounted on the rotating platform in the working configuration, allowing it to be positioned under the mast during transport to load the rear wheels of the tractor truck, thereby improving stability and balancing the loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If ballasts are placed on the rotating platform to stabilize the crane in working configuration, then the load capacity of the crane is improved, but the stability of the convoy during transport deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast system is segmented into a fixed ballast portion permanently mounted on the rotating platform and a removable ballast portion that can be transferred between the platform and the transport vehicle. This segmentation allows the total ballast mass to be optimized for working configuration while enabling redistribution during transport to maintain convoy stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast configuration is made dynamic through the removable ballast portion that can be repositioned between two locations: on the rotating platform during working configuration and on the transport vehicle during transport configuration. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by adapting the ballast distribution to the operational state of the system.
2Power
If ballasts are placed on the rotating platform to increase load curve, then the crane's load capacity is improved, but the load on crane wheels increases beyond permissible mass
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast mass is segmented into fixed and removable portions, allowing only the fixed ballast to remain on the rotating platform permanently. The removable ballast is transferred to the transport vehicle during transport, reducing the load on crane wheels to permissible levels while maintaining adequate ballast for working configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast distribution parameters are changed between operational states: during working configuration, the full ballast mass is positioned on the platform to maximize load curve; during transport, the removable portion is transferred to the vehicle to reduce wheel load to permissible mass limits.
3Power
If ballasts are placed on the rotating platform in transport configuration, then the crane's load capacity is maintained, but the grip of the convoy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast system dynamically adapts to transport configuration by transferring the removable ballast portion from the rotating platform to the transport vehicle. This redistribution shifts the center of gravity forward, loading the front coupling zone and improving the grip and stability of the convoy during transport while preserving load capacity capabilities.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A self-erecting crane (1) comprising a mast (2) mounted on a rotating platform (4) and supporting a boom (3), configurable between a transport configuration and a working configuration, said mast supporting a coupling element (26) suitable for coupling onto a fifth wheel (SE) provided on a rear platform (PA) of a tractor truck (CT), the coupling element being located in a front coupling zone (28) of the mast dimensioned to come above the rear platform, and comprising a lashing system (5) located on the front coupling zone and a removable ballast element (6) shaped to be: - in the transport configuration, temporarily lashed to the mast by means of the lashing system, so that said removable ballast element is located under the mast in the front coupling zone, and - in the working configuration, mounted on the rotating platform.