Mobile crane having a folding walking platform

Abstract

A mobile crane, such as a crawler crane, including an undercarriage having a chassis and a superstructure rotatably supported on the undercarriage and having a pivotable boom. At least two platforms are permanently arranged at the superstructure via which the superstructure is walkable. The platforms each comprise a base and a railing that are movable from a transport position in which they contact the superstructure into a work position in which the bases are walkable and are secured by the railings, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A mobile crane comprising an undercarriage having a chassis and a superstructure rotatably supported on the undercarriage and having a pivotable boom, wherein at least two platforms are permanently arranged laterally at the superstructure via which the superstructure is walkable, wherein the platforms each comprise a base and a railing that are movable from a transport position in which they contact the superstructure into a work position in which the bases are walkable and are secured by the railings, and vice versa.

2. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the platforms are pivotable about at least two pivot axes into the work position.

3. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 2, wherein the bases are pivotable into the work position about at least two pivot axes, wherein two of the at least two pivot axes are non-parallel.

4. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bases and the railings of the platforms are each movable independently of one another and are connectable independently of one another to bases/railings of adjacent platforms.

5. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the platforms are releasably connectable to one another in the work position.

6. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bases have hook elements via which they can be hooked to base fastening elements of adjacent platforms and/or to base fastening elements at the superstructure in the work position.

7. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the railings are pivotable, foldable, displaceable, and/or telescopable and are connectable to adjacent railings and/or to the superstructure via railing fastening elements.

8. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the superstructure comprises an operator's cabin in whose area at least one further platform is arranged, with the at least three platforms forming a continuous superstructure walking platform along one side of the superstructure in the work position.

9. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 8, wherein access to the continuous superstructure walking platform takes place in a region of a rear of the superstructure disposed opposite the operator's cabin.

10. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein an access element having a base and a railing is attachable to the superstructure such that a superstructure walking platform formed by the platforms located in the work position is accessible via the access element.

11. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 10, wherein the access element comprises access steps that are pivotable or fastening elements for fastening access steps.

12. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 10, wherein the superstructure has superstructure ballast that can be raised from the ground and placed on the ground via a lifting mechanism of the mobile crane, with the access element being fastened or fastenable to the superstructure ballast.

13. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 12, wherein the access element is pivotably supported or supportable at the superstructure ballast, with the access element raised via the superstructure ballast being connectable to the superstructure walking platform.

14. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein an upper side of the superstructure is walkable; and wherein a superstructure railing is provided at the upper side of the superstructure.

15. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one base element is displaceably or foldably or pivotably supported at the upper side of the superstructure.

16. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mobile crane is a crawler crane.

17. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 3, wherein the two non-parallel pivot axes of the at least two pivot axes are perpendicular to one another; and wherein the railings are pivotable, foldable, displaceable, and/or telescopable into the work position.

18. The mobile crane according to claim 12, wherein the access element is fastened or fastenable to a ballast receiving plate of the superstructure ballast and can be moved to a height of the superstructure walking platform by raising the superstructure ballast.

19. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 13, wherein the superstructure walking platform is connectable to a platform by pivoting.

20. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 15, wherein a walkable region of the superstructure is formed by a plurality of base elements at the upper side of the superstructure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] Further features and details of the disclosure result from the embodiments explained in the following with reference to the Figures. There are shown:

[0037] FIG. 1: the mobile crane in accordance with the disclosure in accordance with an embodiment in a perspective overall view;

[0038] FIG. 2: a perspective representation of three platforms in accordance with the disclosure in accordance with an embodiment in the transport position;

[0039] FIG. 3: the platforms in accordance with FIG. 2, with a platform being pivoted about a first axis;

[0040] FIG. 4: the platforms in accordance with FIG. 3, with the pivoted platform being pivoted about a further axis;

[0041] FIG. 5: the platforms in accordance with FIG. 4, with the railing of the pivoted platform being unfolded;

[0042] FIG. 6: the platforms in accordance with FIG. 2, with all the platforms being located in the work position;

[0043] FIG. 7: an enlarged representation of the superstructure of the mobile crane in accordance with FIG. 1 with lowered superstructure ballast;

[0044] FIG. 8: the mobile crane in accordance with FIG. 7 with raised superstructure ballast and a connected access module; and

[0045] FIG. 9: a perspective view of a plurality of base plates at the upper side of the superstructure in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the mobile crane 10 in accordance with the disclosure, which is not a crawler crane here, in a perspective overall view. The crawler crane 10 comprises an undercarriage 12 having two crawler chassis 13 and a superstructure 14 supported on the undercarriage 12 rotatable about a vertical axis.

[0047] A main boom 16 pivotable about a horizontal axis is connected in an articulated manner to the superstructure 14 in a front region (at the left in the illustration). The main boom 16 is guyed via an A frame 17 pivotably supported at the superstructure 14. An operator's cabin 18 for controlling the mobile crane 10 is likewise located in the front region of the superstructure 14. There is superstructure ballast 20 in the rear region (at the right in the illustration) that comprises a ballast receiving plate 22 and a plurality of ballast elements 24 or ballast plates stacked thereon.

[0048] A superstructure walking platform 31 in the form of a continuous walkway that can be walked on or climbed on via access steps in the region of the superstructure ballast 20 is located at the side of the superstructure 14 on which the operator's cabin 18 is located. Access to the operator's cabin supported in an elevated position is established for the operator via the superstructure walking platform 31 and access to the upper side of the superstructure 14 is established via a ladder laterally attached to the superstructure 14.

[0049] The superstructure walking platform 31 is formed by a plurality of platforms 30 that are set up in modular form, produced in lightweight construction, and shown perspectively in different positions in accordance with an embodiment in FIGS. 2-6. The platform modules or platforms 30 are attached fixedly, i.e. permanently, to the superstructure 14 and are not removed or dismantled for transport. For transport, the platforms 30 can instead be moved into a space-saving transport position in which they laterally contact the superstructure 14 in a flat manner. This transport position is shown in FIG. 2.

[0050] The platforms 30 in accordance with the disclosure each comprise a pivotable base 32, that is designed in this embodiment as a substantially quadratic lattice, and an unfoldable railing. The platforms 30 are fixedly connected to the superstructure 14 or to a base frame of the superstructure 14 via holders 37. A locking means (not shown) can be provided for each platform 30 that fixes the platforms 30 or bases 32 in the transport position so that they do not unfold independently in an unwanted manner.

[0051] A base fastening element 38 formed as a pivot console is supported pivotably about a vertical axis in each holder 37. This vertical axis form a first pivot axis A1 as is indicated in FIG. 4. The base 32 and the railing 34 of the platform 30 are in turn fastened or supported at the pivot console (base fastening element) 38.

[0052] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the platforms 30 can also be rotated from this transport position by (at least) 90° about the first pivot axis A1. An abutment can optionally be provided here that blocks a rotation beyond 90°. The individual platforms 30 can be moved or pivoted independently of one another. The base 32 and the railing 34 are pivoted together about the first pivot axis A1.

[0053] The pivot console 38 comprises a longitudinal arm that is arranged perpendicular to the pivot axis A2 and that forms a second pivot axis A2 since the base 32 is pivotably supported at the longitudinal arm of the pivot console 38. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the base 32 (but not the railing 34) can be pivoted and folded over about the longitudinal arm of the pivot console 38 or about the second pivot axis A2 so that it is horizontally oriented. The base 32 can therefore likewise be pivoted by (at least) 90° about the second pivot axis A2. The pivot axes A1 and A2 are perpendicular to one another. The second pivot axis A2 is in a horizontal plane.

[0054] The short arm of the pivot console 38 forming the first pivot axis A1 and its long arm are connected to one another by an angular element or an angular metal sheet having a stiffening effect. The pivot console 38 is rotatably supported via two bearing points via the short arm in the holder 37. Different arrangements or shapes of the supports or holders 37 are naturally also conceivable here.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the railing 34 of the platform 30 can be unfolded. For this purpose, the railing 34 has a vertical part that is fixedly connected to the pivot console 38 and at which a folding part 35 is pivotably supported. The folding part 35 comprises two transverse struts that are pivotably supported at the vertical railing part and that are connected in an articulated manner to a longitudinal strut at their end spaced apart from the vertical railing part. The folding part 35 thereby forms a parallelogram guide that forms a rectangle in the completely unfolded state (i.e., the transverse struts are perpendicular to the vertical railing part).

[0056] The platform 30 shown at the right in FIG. 5 is fully unfolded and is in the work position in which it can be walked on by an operator and the operated is secured against falling by the unfolded railing 34. A lever 42 that is arranged in this embodiment in the region of the articulated connection of the lower transverse strut and the longitudinal strut of the folding part 35 is provided for the easier unfolding of the folding part 35. Different positions and/or shapes of such an actuation element to facilitate the unfolding of the folding part 35 are naturally also conceivable here.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows three platforms 30 in the work position that form a continuous walkway. The superstructure walking platform 31 is set up by a plurality of such platforms 30 that can differ in their dimensions. Some platforms 30 can thus have longer and/or angled bases 32. The superstructure walking platform 31 formed by the platforms 30 can thereby be adapted to the geometry of the superstructure 14 and can, for example, lead around one or more corners so that a continuous connection or a continuous walkway is present from the rear up to the operator's cabin 18 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0058] In comparison with many known superstructure walking platforms, the platforms 30 in accordance with the disclosure directly adjoin one another in the work position so that a gap-free continuous superstructure walking platform 31 is produced. The risk of falling or of injury is thereby minimized. The superstructure walking platform 31 can also include, in addition to the folding platforms 30 in accordance with the disclosure, fixedly installed parts, i.e. non-movable parts, such as plates/bases, railing parts, or the like rigidly attached to the superstructure 14. It is alternatively or additionally conceivable that the superstructure walking platform 31 includes one or more folding, telescopic, displaceable, or otherwise movable parts. Such parts can be provided in corner or curve regions or in the end sections of the superstructure walking platform 31.

[0059] The platforms 30 are therefore connected to adjacent platforms 30 in the work position (cf. FIG. 6). For this purpose, the bases 32 have two hook elements 36 at the sides disposed opposite the pivot consoles 38 that can be placed on or hooked into the long arms of the pivot consoles 38 on the folding over of the bases about the second pivot axes A2. The bases 32 of the adjacent platforms 30 are therefore releasably connected to one another by hook-in connections. A locking mechanism can optionally be provided here that locks the bases 32 with the adjacent platforms 30. A latch or pin connection would be conceivable here, for example.

[0060] The railings 34 of the adjacent platforms 30 are also connectable to one another in the work positions. For this purpose, the upper transverse struts of the folding parts 35 each have a railing fastening element 40 at the end disposed opposite the vertical railing part, said railing fastening element 40 being releasably connectable, such as hookable via a hook-in connection, to a corresponding fastening element at the top at the vertical part of the railing 34 of the adjacent platform 30. A reversible locking connection can also be provided here, for example by means of a latch or pin connection.

[0061] Since the platform modules 30 are designed in a lightweight construction and can be moved to and fro directly between their transport and work positions without the attachment of further parts such as railings, the installation of the superstructure walking platform 31 can take place fast and comfortably by a single operator from the ground. The superstructure walking platform 31 is adaptable or expandable as desired due to the modular construction. The platforms 30 in accordance with the disclosure can thereby be used at any desired superstructure geometries.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the superstructure 14 of the mobile crane 10 in accordance with the disclosure. The superstructure ballast 20 can be raised from the ground or placed on the ground from the superstructure 14 by means of a lifting mechanism of the mobile crane 10 that can also be called a self-loading system. The ballast receiving plate 22 can thereby be loaded with ballast elements 24 on the ground and the fully equipped or stacked superstructure ballast 20 can subsequently be raised to the superstructure 14 by means of the lifting mechanism.

[0063] The lifting mechanism is also used to equip the access to the superstructure walking platform 31 in the present case. Access takes place in the rear region via an access element 50 or access module that is likewise produced in lightweight construction and that has a base 52 (for example, a lattice base) and two railings 54 at both sides. The access element 50 is pivotably fastened to the ballast receiving plate 22, such as via a hook-in connection. The assembly takes place with a lowered superstructure ballast 20 as can be seen in FIG. 7.

[0064] The access module 50 is automatically positioned at the correct height—namely at the height of the superstructure walking platform 31—by raising the superstructure ballast 20 by means of the lifting mechanism. The superstructure walking platform 31 has a gap in the railing in the rear region to which the access element 50 is attached. This gap can e.g. be provided by a special platform 30 (for example only a folding base) or by a stage fixedly connected to the superstructure 14. As is shown in FIG. 8, the access element 50 is rotated toward the superstructure walking platform 31 (cf. the arrows 70 that indicate the directions of lifting and rotation) by an operator from the ground. A locking connection can be provided here.

[0065] Access steps 56 can now be attached, or hooked, to specific fastening elements of the access element 50 so that the elevated superstructure walking platform 31 can be climbed by an operator.

[0066] A ladder 28, such as an extendable ladder, (cf. FIG. 7) via which the upper side of the superstructure 14 can be climbed is located in the region of the (attached) access element 50. Superstructure railings 26 are attached to the margins at the upper side of the superstructure 14 for securing.

[0067] Walking on the superstructure 14 takes place via self-supporting sectional bases or base elements 60 produced in lightweight construction. An embodiment for a walkable region of the superstructure formed by such base elements 60 is shown in FIG. 9. The base elements 60 are very easily displaceable and additionally foldable on the existing base frame of the superstructure 14. For this purpose, the base elements have hook elements 62 at the side via which they lie on corresponding fastening elements at the base frame. The base elements 60 may be of different shapes, that is of different lengths and widths, and are therefore flexibly adaptable to the superstructure geometry and to the objects or obstacles installed at the upper side. Such a walkable region of sectional bases or base elements 60 cannot only be used on the superstructure, but also in other regions, for example instead of the lattice bases in the folding platforms.

[0068] The platforms 30 in accordance with the disclosure enable a fast and simple installation of the superstructure walking platform 31 without external aids such as an auxiliary crane or manual tools from the ground and by only one single operator. Although they may be metal, they are produced in lightweight construction and are thereby simple to handle.