Pivot-forming crane element for an element-mounted crane

Abstract

A pivot-forming crane element for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane includes a framework on which a motor-driven orienting system, a hoisting winch and a dispensing winch are mounted. The motor-driven orienting system includes a pivot mechanism about an orienting axis and at least one orienting electric motor cooperating with the pivot mechanism to make the framework pivot about the orienting axis. The hoisting winch is provided with a hoisting electric motor cooperating with a hoisting drum around which a hoisting rope is wound. The dispensing winch is provided with a dispensing electric motor cooperating with a dispensing drum around which a dispensing rope is wound.

Claims

1. A pivot-forming crane element for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, the pivot-forming crane element comprising: a framework on which are mounted: a motor-driven orienting system comprising a pivot mechanism about an orienting axis and at least one orienting electric motor cooperating with the pivot mechanism to make the framework pivot about the orienting axis; a hoisting winch provided with a hoisting electric motor cooperating with a hoisting drum around which a hoisting rope is wound; and a dispensing winch provided with a dispensing electric motor cooperating with a dispensing drum around which a dispensing rope is wound, wherein the framework comprises a frame and a truss projecting from the frame to form a jib carrier, wherein all of the motor-driven orienting system, the hoisting winch and the dispensing winch are mounted on the frame; the frame having: a central portion on which the motor-driven orienting system and the truss are mounted; and a front portion extending the central portion forwards beyond the truss, and on which the hoisting winch and the dispensing winch are mounted, wherein the front portion includes an upper bed on which the hoisting winch is mounted, and below which the dispensing winch is mounted, so that the hoisting winch is disposed above the dispensing winch, and wherein the truss supports a jib top attachment and the front portion of the frame supports a jib low attachment.

2. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, wherein the front portion of the frame does not have any rail for a dispensing trolley, so that the front portion does not constitute a jib element.

3. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, wherein the hoisting drum and the dispensing drum are rotatable about parallel or substantially parallel axes.

4. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, wherein the truss supports an upper rope deflection system disposed above and at the rear of the hoisting winch for a first deflection of the hoisting rope, and the front portion of the frame supports a lower rope deflection system disposed below and at the rear of the hoisting winch for a second deflection of the hoisting rope.

5. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 4, wherein at least one amongst the upper rope deflection system and the lower rope deflection system is coupled to a load measuring sensor to measure a load at the level of the hoisting rope.

6. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, wherein the frame has a rear portion extending the central portion rearwards beyond the truss, and the truss supports a counter-jib top attachment and the rear portion of the frame supports a counter-jib low attachment.

7. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, wherein the framework has at least one first bearing on which the hoisting drum is rotatably mounted, and at least one second bearing on which the dispensing drum is rotatably mounted.

8. The pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, further comprising an electric set mounted on the framework and integrating at least one command/control unit, a power supply interface to plug an electric power supply, and a network of electrical cables connecting the command/control unit and the power supply interface to the orienting electric motor, to the hoisting electric motor and to the dispensing electric motor.

9. A transportable package for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, the transportable package comprising: the pivot-forming crane element according to claim 1, and a main crane element, selected amongst a counter-jib forming crane element and a jib-foot forming crane element, fastened on the framework of the pivot-forming crane element.

10. The transportable package according to claim 9, wherein the main crane element is securely fastened on the framework of the pivot-forming crane element.

11. The transportable package according to claim 9, further comprising an electric set mounted on the main crane and integrating at least one command/control unit, a power supply interface to plug an electric power supply, and a network of electrical cables connecting the command/control unit and the power supply interface to the orienting electric motor, to the hoisting electric motor and to the dispensing electric motor.

12. A rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, comprising the transportable package according to claim 9, and further comprising a secondary crane element, selected amongst the counter-jib forming crane element and the jib-foot forming crane element and which is not the main crane element, detachably fastened on the framework of the pivot-forming crane element.

13. An element-mounted crane comprising: the rotating portion according to claim 12; and a mast provided with a top on which the framework of the pivot-forming crane element is mounted.

14. The element-mounted crane according to claim 13, further comprising: a jib provided with the jib-foot forming crane element fastened on the framework of the pivot-forming crane element; a dispensing trolley hanging on the jib and linked to the dispensing winch via the dispensing rope for a displacement of the dispensing trolley along the jib in opposite forward direction and backward direction; a reeve-block hanging from the dispensing trolley by the hoisting rope coupled to the hoisting winch for an ascending and descending displacement of the reeve-block.

15. A pivot-forming crane element for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, the pivot-forming crane element comprising: a framework on which are mounted: a motor-driven orienting system comprising a pivot mechanism about an orienting axis and at least one orienting electric motor cooperating with the pivot mechanism to make the framework pivot about the orienting axis; a hoisting winch provided with a hoisting electric motor cooperating with a hoisting drum around which a hoisting rope is wound; and a dispensing winch provided with a dispensing electric motor cooperating with a dispensing drum around which a dispensing rope is wound, wherein the framework comprises a frame and a truss projecting from the frame to form a jib carrier, wherein all of the motor-driven orienting system, the hoisting winch and the dispensing winch are mounted on the frame; the frame having: a central portion on which the motor-driven orienting system and the truss are mounted; and a front portion extending the central portion forwards beyond the truss, and on which the hoisting winch and the dispensing winch are mounted, wherein the front portion includes an upper bed on which the hoisting winch is mounted, and below which the dispensing winch is mounted, so that the hoisting winch is disposed above the dispensing winch, and wherein the frame has a rear portion extending the central portion rearwards beyond the truss, and the truss supports a counter-jib top attachment and the rear portion of the frame supports a counter-jib low attachment.

16. A transportable package for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, the transportable package comprising: the pivot-forming crane element according to claim 15, and a main crane element, selected amongst a counter-jib forming crane element and a jib-foot forming crane element, fastened on the framework of the pivot-forming crane element.

17. A rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, comprising the transportable package according to claim 16, and further comprising a secondary crane element, selected amongst the counter-jib forming crane element and the jib-foot forming crane element and which is not the main crane element, detachably fastened on the framework of the pivot-forming crane element.

18. An element-mounted crane comprising: the rotating portion according to claim 17; and a mast provided with a top on which the framework of the pivot-forming crane element is mounted.

19. A pivot-forming crane element for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, the pivot-forming crane element comprising: a framework on which are mounted: a motor-driven orienting system comprising a pivot mechanism about an orienting axis and at least one orienting electric motor cooperating with the pivot mechanism to make the framework pivot about the orienting axis; a hoisting winch provided with a hoisting electric motor cooperating with a hoisting drum around which a hoisting rope is wound; and a dispensing winch provided with a dispensing electric motor cooperating with a dispensing drum around which a dispensing rope is wound, wherein the framework comprises a frame and a truss projecting from the frame to form a jib carrier, wherein all of the motor-driven orienting system, the hoisting winch and the dispensing winch are mounted on the frame; the frame having: a central portion on which the motor-driven orienting system and the truss are mounted; and a front portion extending the central portion forwards beyond the truss, and on which the hoisting winch and the dispensing winch are mounted, wherein the front portion includes an upper bed on which the hoisting winch is mounted, and below which the dispensing winch is mounted, so that the hoisting winch is disposed above the dispensing winch, and wherein the truss supports an upper rope deflection system disposed above and at the rear of the hoisting winch for a first deflection of the hoisting rope, and the front portion of the frame supports a lower rope deflection system disposed below and at the rear of the hoisting winch for a second deflection of the hoisting rope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear upon reading the detailed description hereinafter, of a non-limiting example of implementation, made with reference to the appended figures wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective top view of a framework for a pivot-forming crane element according to an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective bottom view of the framework of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective top view of a pivot-forming crane element according to an embodiment, comprising the framework of FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as a hoisting winch and a dispensing winch, where a counter-jib forming crane element is securely fastened on the framework of this pivot-forming crane element;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective top view of the pivot-forming crane element of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective top view of the pivot-forming crane element of FIGS. 3 and 4, where a counter-jib forming crane element is securely fastened on the framework of this pivot-forming crane element and where a jib-foot forming crane element is detachably fastened on this same framework;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the pivot-forming crane element of FIGS. 3-5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating the passage of the hoisting rope in the pivot-forming crane element of FIGS. 3-6; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective top view of the framework of FIGS. 1 and 2, on which a counter-jib forming crane element is securely fastened to form a transportable package.

DESCRIPTION

(10) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pivot-forming crane element 1 according to the present disclosure is provided for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane, and this pivot-forming crane element 1 comprises a framework 2 integrating a frame 6 and a truss 7 projecting upwardly of the frame 6 to form a jib-carrier, and this pivot-forming crane element 1 also comprises the following systems which are mounted on the framework 2: a motor-driven orienting system 3 comprising a pivot mechanism 31 about an orienting axis Z and at least one orienting electric motor 30 cooperating with the pivot mechanism 31 to make the framework 2 pivot about the orienting axis Z; a hoisting winch 4 provided with a hoisting electric motor 40 cooperating with a hoisting drum 41 around which a hoisting rope 42 is wound; and a dispensing winch 5 provided with a dispensing electric motor 50 cooperating with a dispensing drum 51 around which a dispensing rope 52 is wound.

(11) Once the element-mounted crane is mounted, the latter comprises: a rotating portion comprising the pivot-forming crane element 1, as well as a jib-foot forming crane element 8 and a counter-jib forming crane element 9 which are fastened on the framework 2, on either side of the truss 7, and this rotating portion also comprises jib elements (not illustrated) which are assembled successively on the jib-foot forming crane element 8 to form a jib; and a mast 20 (schematized only in FIG. 7) provided with a top on which the framework 2 of the pivot-forming crane element 1 is mounted, to enable a rotation of the rotating portion about the orienting axis Z.

(12) Thus, the rotating portion of the element-mounted crane comprises the jib formed by an assembly of this jib-foot forming crane element 8 and of the crane elements, with the jib-foot forming crane element 8 which is fastened on the framework 2 of the pivot-forming crane element 1. Moreover, there is provided a dispensing trolley (not illustrated) hanging on the jib and linked to the dispensing winch 5 via the dispensing rope 52 for a displacement of the dispensing trolley along the jib in opposite forward direction and rearward direction. There is also provided a reeve-block (not illustrated) hanging to the dispensing trolley by the hoisting rope 42 coupled to the hoisting winch 4 for a descending and ascending displacement of the reeve-block. As shown in FIG. 5, it could also be considered to mount a control cabin 10 on the framework 2 of the pivot-forming crane element 1. Moreover, one or several counterweight(s) (not illustrated) are mounted on the counter-jib forming crane element 9.

(13) Referring to FIG. 2, the pivot mechanism 31 comprises a fixed pivot 32 intended to be securely fastened to the top of the mast 20, and a rotating pivot 33 rotatably coupled to the fixed pivot 32 about the orienting axis Z. The fixed pivot 32 includes an orienting crown which is geared, and the rotating pivot 33 has an annular bearing surface provided on the underside of the framework 2 and bearing on the orienting crown, and the at least one orienting electric motor 30 is provided with a pinion meshing with the orienting crown.

(14) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 6 of the framework 2 of the pivot-forming crane element 1 has: a central portion 60 on which the motor-driven orienting system 3 and the truss 7 are mounted; and a front portion 61 extending the central portion 60 forwards beyond the truss 7, and on which the hoisting winch 4 and the dispensing winch 5 are mounted; and a rear portion 62 extending the central portion 60 rearwards beyond the truss 7.

(15) The truss 7 comprises: beams 70 projecting upwardly of the frame 6 and each including a lower end secured to the frame 6 and an opposite upper end, an upper structure 71 on which the upper ends of the beams 70 are securely fastened.

(16) The truss 7 supports a jib top attachment 73 and the front portion 61 of the frame 6 supports a jib low attachment 63, which are intended to enable a top and low attachment of the jib-foot forming crane element 8 on the framework 2 of the pivot-forming crane element 1. The jib top attachment 73 is provided on the upper structure 71 of the truss 7.

(17) The truss 7 supports a counter-jib top attachment 74 and the rear portion 62 of the frame 6 supports a counter-jib low attachment 64, which are intended to enable a top and low attachment of the counter-jib forming crane element 9 on the framework 2 of the pivot-forming crane element 1. The counter-jib top attachment 74 is provided on the upper structure 71 of the truss 7.

(18) In the illustrated embodiment, it is shown that the front portion 61 of the frame 6 has no rail for the dispensing trolley, so that this front portion 61 does not constitute a jib element. In other words, the dispensing trolley circulates along the jib, and in particular along the jib-foot forming crane element 8, between a jib-foot limit position located on this jib-foot forming crane element 8 and a jib-tip limit position located at the tip of the jib, without said dispensing trolley being able to circulate on the front portion 61 of the frame 6.

(19) In one embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 and 8, for example, the jib-foot forming crane element 8 is detachably fastened on the framework 2, whereas the counter-jib forming crane element 9 is securely fastened, by welding, on the framework 2. Thus, the pivot-forming crane element 1 and the counter-jib forming crane element 9 will form together a transportable package which, during the assembly of the element-mounted crane, will be assembled to the mast 20, formed by an assembly of several mast elements, and to the jib-foot forming crane element 8, which is in turn assembled to jib elements to form a jib. FIG. 8 illustrates such a transportable package, where only the framework 2 is represented for the pivot-forming crane element 1.

(20) In this embodiment, the jib top attachment 73 is for example in the form of a bracket intended for a top attachment of the jib-foot forming crane element 8, via a linking pin 80 which enables mounting/dismounting. The jib low attachment 63 comprises two hooks adapted to receive linking shafts 64 intended to assemble at the lower portion the framework 2 and the jib-foot forming crane element 8 and which also enable mounting/dismounting.

(21) In another embodiment that is not illustrated, the counter-jib forming crane element 9 is detachably fastened on the framework 2, whereas the jib-foot forming crane element 8 is securely fastened, by welding, on the framework 2. Thus, in this variant, the pivot-forming crane element 1 and the jib-foot forming crane element 8 form together a transportable package which, during the assembly of the element-mounted crane, will be assembled to the mast 20, formed by an assembly of several mast elements, to the counter-jib forming crane element 9 and to the jib elements to form a jib.

(22) The front portion 61 of the frame 6 comprise an upper bed 65 on which the hoisting winch 4 is mounted, and below which the dispensing winch 5 is mounted, so that the hoisting winch 4 is disposed above the dispensing winch 5. Also, the framework 2 has, securely fastened to the upper bed 65: two first bearings 66 mounted on an upper face of the upper bed 65 and on which the hoisting drum 41 is rotatably mounted, and two second bearings 67 mounted on a lower face of the upper bed 65 and on which the dispensing drum 51 is rotatably mounted.

(23) It should be noted that the hoisting drum 41 and the dispensing drum 51 are rotatable about parallel axes orthogonal to the orienting axis Z. Also, for routing of the hoisting rope 42 not to be hindered by routing of the dispensing rope 52, and vice versa, the truss 7 supports an upper rope deflection system 78, such as for example an upper pulley, disposed above and at the rear of the hoisting winch 4 for a first deflection of the hoisting rope 42, and the front portion 61 of the frame 6 supports a lower rope deflection system 68, such as for example a lower pulley, disposed below and at the rear of the hoisting winch 4 for a second deflection of the hoisting rope 42.

(24) Thus, the hoisting rope 42 has a rear strand 420 extending between the upper rope deflection system 78 and the lower rope deflection system 68, at the rear of the lifting winch 4. As schematized in FIG. 7, there is also provided a front rope deflection system 88 on the jib-foot forming crane element 8, which is located above and at the front of the hoisting winch 4, so that the hoisting rope 42 passes successively, from the hoisting drum 41, through the front rope deflection system 88, the upper rope deflection system 78, then the front rope deflection system 88 and the dispensing trolley and the reeve-block.

(25) In an embodiment, the at least one upper rope deflection system 78 and the lower rope deflection system 68 is coupled to a load measuring sensor 69, 79 (see FIG. 7) to measure a load at the level of the hoisting rope 42; such a function being thus integrated to the pivot-forming crane element 1.

(26) As shown schematically in FIG. 3, it is advantageous that the pivot-forming crane element 1 also comprises an electric set 91 mounted on the framework 2 (preferably in an electrical cabinet) and integrating at least one command/control unit 92, a power supply interface 93 to plug an electric power supply, and a network of electrical cables 94 connecting the command/control unit 92 and the power supply interface 93 to the orienting electric motor 30, to the hoisting electric motor 40 and to the dispensing electric motor 50. This command/control unit 92 is also connected to a control device (not illustrated) intended for controlling the movements of the crane by a pilot, and in particular a control device disposed in the control cabin 10 and/or alternatively a remote control device or a radio-control device.

(27) In one variant, this electric set 91 is mounted on the main crane element, selected amongst the counter-jib forming crane element 9 and the jib-foot forming crane element 8, to form, with the pivot-forming crane element 1, a transportable package. Thus, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the electric set 91 (shown schematically) is mounted on the counter-jib forming crane element 9 inside an electrical cabinet 90.

(28) This command/control unit implements: the reception, at the input, of the signal for controlling the movements of the crane, such as hoisting, rotation, dispensing and translation, originating from the control device, and also receives at the input signals originating from different sensors (such as for example position sensors, load measuring sensor such as that described hereinabove, a sensor for measuring the state of the brake(s) associated to all or part of the movements of the crane, a sensor for measuring the horizontality of a portion of the crane, such as an inclinometer, a wind sensor such as an anemometer) and/or safety systems, and the output of start and stop orders, by monitoring the action of the speed drives or other control members assigned to the movements and in particular to the motor-driven orienting system 3, the hoisting winch 4 and the dispensing winch 5, as well as the action of the possible safety devices of the crane (such as for example a general shutdown actuator).

(29) In an embodiment, at least one anemometer (not illustrated) is mounted on the framework 2 and is connected to the command/control unit.

(30) Further, in an embodiment, a hoisting safety device (not illustrated), such as top and bottom end-of-travels, is disposed on the hoisting winch 4 to secure the travel of the hoisting rope 42 and is connected to the command/control unit. Similarly, a dispensing safety device (not illustrated), such as front and rear end-of-travels, is disposed on the dispensing winch 5 to secure the travel of the dispensing rope 52 and is connected to the command/control unit.

(31) Thus, most of the electrical wirings and electrical tests shall be done directly on the pivot-forming crane element 1, in the factory, even before the assembly of the crane on the construction site.