Bridge crane arrangement

Abstract

A bridge crane arrangement includes at least one main girder having a central web and a bottom flange; end girders supporting opposite ends of the main girder; a slide arranged between an end girder and the main girder, the slide allowing the movement of the end girder in relation to the main girder in at least its longitudinal direction and the rotation of the end girder and main girder in relation to each other; and a restrictor to restrict the movements between the end girder and the main girder. On the top surface of the end girder, there is arranged a support platform wider than the bottom flange, the slide includes a slide surface arranged on the top surface of the support platform and/or the bottom surface of the bottom flange, and the restrictor is arranged to the support platform on both sides of the bottom flange.

Claims

1. A bridge crane arrangement comprising: at least one main girder for a trolley, the at least one main girder having a longitudinal central web which has at least one web plate, and a longitudinal bottom flange arranged in a bottom part of the longitudinal central web and protruding from the longitudinal central web onto both sides thereof; at least two end girders adapted to support opposite ends of the at least one main girder; wheels arranged to the at least two end girders and intended to move the bridge crane arrangement along substantially parallel guides which are transverse in relation to the at least one main girder and thus to support the entire bridge crane arrangement; a slide arranged between an end girder of the at least two end girders on at least one side and a corresponding end of the at least one main girder, the slide allowing movement of said end girder of the at least two end girders in relation to the at least one main girder in at least a longitudinal direction thereof and rotation of said end girder of the at least two end girders and the at least one main girder in relation to each other; and a restrictor configured to restrict the movements between said end girder of the at least two end girders and the at least one main girder, wherein on a top surface of said end girder of the at least two end girders there is arranged a support platform wider than the longitudinal bottom flange, wherein the slide includes a slide surface arranged on a top surface of the support platform and/or a bottom surface of the longitudinal bottom flange of the at least one main girder, and wherein the restrictor is arranged to the support platform on both sides of the longitudinal bottom flange of the at least one main girder, outside the at least one main girder.

2. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide surface is formed of tape having sliding characteristics, and having a core structure on top of which the slide surface is arranged.

3. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide surface is formed of a sprayable substance comprising sliding characteristics, which has been sprayed, painted, or coated on the top surface of the support platform and/or on the bottom surface of the longitudinal bottom flange of the at least one main girder.

4. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide surface is adapted on a substantially horizontal plane.

5. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restrictor comprises raising elements installed on the top surface of the support platform on both sides of the longitudinal bottom flange of the main girder, and cover parts connected to the raising elements and extending on top of the longitudinal bottom flange.

6. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the raising elements and cover parts are separate pieces.

7. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the raising elements are formed of a plurality of superimposed plates.

8. The bridge crane arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the raising elements and cover parts are integrated into a uniform structure.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bridge crane arrangement provided with one main girder as seen from below the guides intended for its movement;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an advantageous inventive slide joint of a bridge crane arrangement, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the main girder; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slide joint of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown the bridge crane arrangement according to the invention, which comprises a main girder 1, a trolley 2 moving on the main girder 1 or at least one hoisting apparatus (not shown) fixedly on it, end girders 3, 4 arranged on opposite ends of the main girder 1 and supporting the main girder 1, and wheels 5 arranged to the end girders, the wheels being intended to move along guides, such as rails 6 and 7, which are substantially parallel to the end girders 3 and 4 and, on the other hand, transverse in relation to the main girder 1, and thus to support the entire crane on said rails.

(6) The main girder 1 has a longitudinal central web, which in this case has two web plates 1a at a distance from each other, and a longitudinal bottom flange 1b arranged in the bottom part of the central web and protruding from the central web on both sides thereof. The central web may also be a single plate one or of a profile type. This flange structure, typical for main girders, may be used to support the wheels (not shown) of the trolley 2 and thus to support the entire trolley 2 and a load fastened to it.

(7) Between the end girder 4 on one side and the corresponding end 9 of the main girder 1, slide means are arranged, allowing the movement of the end girder 4 in question in relation to the main girder 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof, rotation of the end girder 4 in question and main girder 1 in relation to each other, as well as a small movement in the direction of the rail 7, as well as restricting means to restrict the movements between this end girder 4 on one side and the main girder 1. The second end 8 of the main girder 1 is, in turn, connected to a second end girder 3 by a normal, rigid joint controlling the crane, but if need be, it may also be arranged to slide as described in the above.

(8) In accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3, there is arranged, on the top surface of the end girder 4, a support platform 10 wider than the bottom flange 1b, whereby the slide means comprise a slide surface 11 arranged on the top surface of the support platform 10 and/or the bottom surface of the bottom flange 1b of the main girder, and whereby restricting means, described below, are installed to the support platform 10 on both sides of the bottom flange 1b of the main girder, outside the main girder 1. The support platform 10 may also be a plate welded to the end girders.

(9) The support platform 10 may also have been formed of different two plates so that it has a raised surface, preferably on the centre part. The slide surface 11 is in this case installed on top of said centre part. The raised portion may be accomplished in a number of ways, for example by milling the edge portions, or welding two superimposed plates of different sizes to each other, etc. So, the support platform may have a horizontal surface at two levels. Bolts 14 to be fixed penetrate the support platform 10 in the edge area having the lower level of the support platform 10, and the main girder rests on the upper level.

(10) The slide surface 11 may be formed of tape having sliding characteristics, and having a core on top of which the slide surface 11 is arranged. The slide surface 11 may also be formed of a sprayable substance comprising sliding characteristics, which has been sprayed, painted, or coated on the top surface of the support platform 10 and/or on the bottom surface of the bottom flange 1b of the main girder, without a separate core. The maximum thickness of the slide surface is advantageously in the 3 to 5 mm range.

(11) The restricting means comprise raising elements 12 installed on the top surface of the support platform 10 on both sides of the bottom flange 1b of the main girder 1, and cover parts 13 connected to the raising elements and extending on top of the bottom flange 1b. Between the bottom flange 1b and cover parts 13 a vertical gap may remain.

(12) The raising elements 12 and cover parts 13 may be separate pieces, and the raising parts 12 may be formed of several plates one on top of the other. The raising elements 12 and cover part 13 may also be integrated into a uniform structure.

(13) Between the side edges of the bottom flange 1b of the raising elements 12, a clearance has to be left which allows the main girder 1 to move in the longitudinal direction and the rotation of the main girder 1, within certain limits, in relation to the vertical axis of the end girder 4. The adapter between the bottom flange 1b of the cover parts 13 only needs to allow the aforementioned sliding. The purpose of the cover parts 13 is to prevent the main girder 1 from swaying around the longitudinal axis of the main girder. The shape of the raising elements 12 and cover parts 13 is not limited to the examples set forth, because the main issue is that they allow the aforementioned movement within the limits set for them.

(14) The support platform 10 may be similar to the support platform for the rigid support on the end girder 3 on the other side, whereby the raising elements 12 and cover parts 13 may be fixed to he support platform 10 with bolts 14 and nuts 15 which are typically also used in the rigid support.

(15) The above description of the invention is only intended to illustrate the implementation of the invention. A person skilled in the art may, however, implement its details within the scope of the attached claims. The invention is therefore suitable for use on a bridge crane comprising a plurality of main girders. In such a case, all the flexible joints must obviously be located on the same side of the crane, unless both sides are flexible.