CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CRANE

Abstract

A control system for a crane comprises a mobile terminal, with pre-installed application software for entering a control command for a crane and with a transmitting module for transmitting the control command, a control unit with a receiving module which is suitable for receiving the control command and is capable of being brought into signal linkage with the mobile terminal, the signal linkage being wireless, and at least one crane module in signal linkage with the control unit, for executing the control command.

Claims

1. A control system for a crane (2), comprising a. a mobile terminal (3) with pre-installed application software (4) for entering a control command for a crane (2) and with a transmitting module (5) for transmitting the control command, b. a control unit (6) with a receiving module (7) which is suitable for receiving the control command and is capable of being brought into signal linkage with the mobile terminal (3), the signal linkage being wireless, c. at least one crane module (8) in signal linkage with the control unit (6), for executing the control command.

2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (6) is arranged on the crane (2).

3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving module (7) exhibits a radio interface (11).

4. A control system according to claim 3, wherein the radio interface (11) is realized one of as a WLAN interface, as a mobile-radio interface, as a Bluetooth interface and as a USB interface.

5. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving module (7) is suitable for receiving several control commands.

6. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving module (7) is suitable for receiving several control commands simultaneously.

7. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal (3) is realized one of as a smartphone and as a tablet computer.

8. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal (3) is suitable for Internet connection.

9. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving module (7) is suitable for Internet connection.

10. A control system according to claim 1, comprising an identification unit (12).

11. A control system according to claim 10, wherein the identification unit (12) is integrated into the receiving module (7) of the control unit (6), for identifying the control command.

12. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one crane module (8) exhibits a positioning element (13) and a functional element (14).

13. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one crane module (8) exhibits a sensor element (15).

14. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the signal linkage between the control unit (6) and the at least one crane module (8) is realized as a CAN bus.

15. A crane with a control system for a crane (2), comprising a. a mobile terminal (3) with pre-installed application software (4) for entering a control command for a crane (2) and with a transmitting module (5) for transmitting the control command, b. a control unit (6) with a receiving module (7) which is suitable for receiving the control command and is capable of being brought into signal linkage with the mobile terminal (3), the signal linkage being wireless, c. at least one crane module (8) in signal linkage with the control unit (6), for executing the control command.

16. A method for controlling a crane, comprising the following method steps: entering a control command into a mobile terminal (3) by means of application software (4), communicating the control command from the mobile terminal (3) to a control unit (6), receiving the control command by means of a receiving module (7) of the control unit (6), executing the control command by means of at least one crane module (8) in signal linkage with the control unit (6).

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein prior to the execution of the control command a security inquiry is undertaken at least one of by identification of the mobile terminal (3) and by identification of a person operating the mobile terminal (3).

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the execution of the control command includes the conversion into a crane function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a control system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] A control system 1 represented schematically in FIG. 1 serves for remote-controlled operation of a crane 2 represented schematically. The control system 1 includes a mobile terminal 3 with pre-installed application software 4 and with a transmitting module 5. The mobile terminal 3 is capable of being brought into communication linkage with a receiving module 7 of a control unit 6 of the crane 2 via a wireless signal link. The communication linkage is bidirectional and enables a communication from the transmitting module 5 of the mobile terminal 3 to the receiving module 7 of the control unit 6, and conversely. The control unit 6 is arranged on the crane 2, in particular integrated within the crane 2. The control unit 6 is in signal linkage with at least one crane module 8.

[0037] The mobile terminal 3 is realized, for example, as a smartphone or tablet computer. The mobile terminal 3 includes an indicator 9 in the form of a display, in particular a touch-sensitive display, for representing the application software 4. The application software 4 comprises several operating menus and selection menus 10 for selecting at least one control command. The selection of a control command may also be undertaken in voice-controlled manner. The operating menus and selection menus 10 are suitable, for example, for displaying the orientation and/or position of at least one crane module 8 and/or for selecting at least one operating mode, such as, for example, traversing mode, lifting/lowering mode. Depending on the selection of one or more operating menus and selection menus 10, at least one control command is made available for selection. Advantageously, the operating menus and selection menus 10 are represented as graphical symbols, so that the application software 4 has been designed to be easily grasped and can be operated intuitively, as a result of which the ease of operation is improved further. By touching the display 9, on which the operation and selection menu 10 is displayed, the at least one control command is selected. The at least one control command selected via the application software 4 is communicated by the transmitting module 5 to the receiving module 7. The transmitting module 5 is also suitable for receiving data. The mobile terminal 3 is suitable for Internet connection, in particular for mobile data-network connection.

[0038] The receiving module 7 is integrated within the control unit 6. Alternatively, the receiving module 7 may also have been realized separately from the control unit 6. In this case, the receiving module 7 would be in communication linkage with the control unit 6 via a data bus. The receiving module 7 is suitable for receiving at least one control command. The receiving module 7 is preferentially suitable for simultaneous reception of several control commands. The receiving module is suitable for Internet connection, in particular for mobile Internet connection. The receiving module 7 exhibits a radio interface 11. The radio interface 11 is realized as a WLAN interface or mobile-radio interface and/or Bluetooth interface or USB interface. If the radio interface 11 has been realized as a WLAN interface or as a mobile-radio interface, the receiving module 7 can establish an Internet connection, in particular a mobile Internet connection. If the radio interface 11 has been realized as a Bluetooth interface or USB interface, the receiving module can be connected to a local network. The receiving module 7 is preferentially suitable to transmit data to the mobile terminal 3.

[0039] The receiving module 7 further includes an identification unit 12 for identifying the control command and also for identification of the mobile terminal 3 and/or for identification of a person operating the mobile terminal 3. The identification module is integrated within the receiving module. The identification of a control command can be undertaken, for example, via an input code, a device ID and/or a SIM ID. The identification of a person operating the mobile terminal 3 can be undertaken by input of an identification number or a PIN and/or by scanning a QR code or a barcode.

[0040] The control unit 6 is in communication linkage with at least one crane module 8 via a CAN bus. The communication linkage is bidirectional. A crane module 8 includes a positioning element 13 and a functional element 14, which convert the control commands into a crane function, in particular a crane-rigging function. The crane module 8 further exhibits at least one sensor element 15 for detecting, for example, the temperature, pressure, speed, orientation and/or position of the crane module 8. By virtue of the signal linkage of the at least one sensor element 15 with the control unit 6, the respectively current state of the crane module 8 is transmitted to the control unit 6. By means of the sum of the states of the individual crane modules 8, the operating state of the crane 2 can be ascertained. Both the individual states of the crane modules 8 and the operating state of the crane 2 can be transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 and displayed by the application software 4. For the purpose of data processing, a control/regulation element 16 and a memory element 17 are provided in the control unit 6.

[0041] In the following, a method for operating the control system 1 will be elucidated in more detail. Firstly, a wireless signal linkage between the mobile terminal 3 and the control unit 6 of the crane 2 is made available. The wireless signal linkage is preferentially made available via the Internet, in particular via the mobile Internet. For this purpose it is necessary that the application software 4 is synchronized with the control unit 6. This is preferentially undertaken by input of an identification number or a PIN or by scanning in a QR code or barcode on start-up of the application software 4. For the purpose of entering a control command by means of the application software 4, several operating menus and selection menus 10 are made available. By selection of one or more operating menus and selection menus 10, one or more control commands can be selected. The at least one control command is transmitted by the transmitting module 5 to the receiving module 7 in wireless manner. The transmission is preferentially undertaken via the Internet, in particular via the mobile Internet. Subsequently the control command is processed by the control/regulation element 16 and the memory element 17 of the control unit 6. Subsequently the respective control command is relayed from the control unit 6 to the respective crane module 8. Thereupon the positioning element 13 and the functional element 14 of the crane module 8 convert the control command into a crane function, in particular a crane-rigging function.

[0042] Advantageously, prior to execution of the control command a security inquiry is undertaken, in particular in the form of an identification of the mobile terminal 3 and/or an identification of a person operating the mobile terminal 3. For the purpose of enabling the control command, an input of an identification number or a PIN is required. The input is undertaken via the application software 4.

[0043] For the purpose of monitoring the conversion of the control command into a crane function, in particular a crane-rigging function, the control unit 6 can detect an actual configuration of the crane. This is undertaken, in particular, by the operating state of the crane 2 being detected. The operating state of the crane 2 takes into consideration, in particular, the criteria such as orientation and position of the crane modules 8 and also the operating mode of the crane 2, such as, for example, traversing mode, lifting/lowering mode, rotating mode or other modes. The orientation and/or position of the crane modules 8 can be represented in the application software 4.

[0044] It is also possible that limiting values for selected operating states of the crane modules 8 are saved in the memory element 17 of the control unit 6, which are equilibrated with the actual configuration of the crane. Should the actual configuration of the crane approach at least one limiting value, a warning is communicated to the application software 4 and displayed, whereupon the operator can react appropriately. The warning can be effected visually or acoustically. When the limiting value is attained or exceeded, the execution of the control command is terminated automatically. By this means, the safety of the operation of the crane is improved further.

[0045] The control system 1, in particular the mobile terminal 3, enables a flexible crane-independent deployment. By this means, manufacturer-specific remote controls can be dispensed with. In particular, it is not necessary for the hardware to be reconfigured or for software to be reprogrammed. Advantageously, the receiving module 7 includes a standard interface for connection to the control unit 6.