Ballast device and mobile crane having same

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a ballast device for fastening to a crane having first and second ballast elements. The first ballast element has first connection means for a releasable fastening to the crane, while both ballast elements are releasably connected to one another via second connection means. According to the disclosure, the first ballast element comprises an assembly device having abutment elements to which an abutment means can be attached to raise the ballast device. The abutment elements are arranged or are positionable such that the abutment means can be selectively attached to the assembly device for raising only the first ballast element above its center of gravity or for commonly raising both ballast elements above their total center of gravity. The disclosure further relates to a mobile crane having at least one such ballast device.

Claims

1. A ballast device for fastening to a crane comprising a first ballast element and a second ballast element, wherein the first ballast element has first connection means for releasable fastening to the crane and wherein both ballast elements are releasably connectable to one another via second connection means, wherein the first ballast element comprises an assembly device having abutment elements to which an abutment means can be attached for raising the ballast device, with the abutment elements being arranged or being positionable such that the abutment means is selectively attachable to the assembly device for raising of only the first ballast element while gripping the first ballast element at a point above a center of gravity of the first ballast element or for common raising of both ballast elements at a further point above a total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements, and the assembly device is an inseparable element of the first ballast element and is movable relative thereto.

2. The ballast device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the assembly device has first abutment elements for raising only the first ballast element and second abutment elements for the common raising of both ballast elements, with a distance between the first and second abutment elements corresponding to a horizontal distance between the center of gravity of the first ballast element and the total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements.

3. The ballast device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first abutment elements are arranged above the center of gravity of the first ballast element and the second abutment elements are arranged in an assembly position above the total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements.

4. The ballast device in accordance with claim 2, wherein a head part is configured as an arm projecting from an elongate part, with the first abutment elements being arranged in a region of the elongate part and the second abutment elements being arranged at an opposite end of the arm.

5. The ballast device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and/or second connection means are means for establishing a suspension connection.

6. The ballast device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second ballast elements are configured such that the total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements lies within the second ballast element.

7. The ballast device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the assembly device comprises an elongate part and a head part arranged at an end of the elongate part, with the head part comprising the abutment elements and being rotatable and/or telescopic relative to the first ballast element.

8. The ballast device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first ballast element has a guide channel in which the elongate part of the assembly device is displaceably supported along its longitudinal axis.

9. The ballast device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the assembly device has an abutment that limits an upward displacement of the assembly device relative to the first ballast element in cooperation with a counter-abutment provided at or in the first ballast element.

10. The ballast device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first ballast element has a second recess whose upper boundary forms the counter-abutment for the abutment of the assembly device, with the abutment and the second recess furthermore respectively have lateral abutments or counter-abutments that cooperate in an azimuthal direction and that limit a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the elongate part to a specific angular range in an uppermost position of the assembly device.

11. The ballast device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the abutment is configured as a pin laterally projecting from the elongate part or as a plate having a polygonal shape, with the second recess being formed at a lower side or in a lower region of the first ballast element.

12. The ballast device according to claim 8, wherein the elongate part of the assembly device is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

13. The ballast device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the abutment and counter-abutment are arranged at the end of the elongate part disposed opposite the head part.

14. The ballast device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the assembly device is located at the counter-abutment on the abutment of the abutment and at a lateral counter-abutment in an assembly position.

15. The ballast device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first ballast element has a first recess at an upper side in which the head part can be completely lowered in a parked position.

16. The ballast device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the assembly device has a latching mechanism in which it is releasably latchable in an assembly position.

17. The ballast device according to claim 16, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a latching element that is supported at the head part and that is pressed into a cutout of the first ballast element by a spring element in the assembly position.

18. The ballast device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ballast device can be fastened to a superstructure or to a superstructure ballast of a mobile crane.

19. A ballast device for fastening to a crane comprising a first ballast element and a second ballast element, wherein the first ballast element has first connection means for releasable fastening to the crane and wherein both ballast elements are releasably connectable to one another via second connection means, wherein the first ballast element comprises an assembly device having abutment elements to which an abutment means can be attached for raising the ballast device, with the abutment elements being arranged or being positionable such that the abutment means is selectively attachable to the assembly device for raising of only the first ballast element at a point above a center of gravity of the first ballast element or for common raising of both ballast elements at a further point above a total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements, and the assembly device has first abutment elements for raising only the first ballast element and second abutment elements for the common raising of both ballast elements, with a distance between the first and second abutment elements corresponding to a horizontal distance between the center of gravity of the first ballast element and the total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements.

20. A ballast device for fastening to a crane comprising a first ballast element and a second ballast element, wherein the first ballast element has first connection means for releasable fastening to the crane and wherein both ballast elements are releasably connectable to one another via second connection means, wherein the first ballast element comprises an assembly device having abutment elements to which an abutment means can be attached for raising the ballast device, with the abutment elements being arranged or being positionable such that the abutment means is selectively attachable to the assembly device for raising of only the first ballast element at a point above a center of gravity of the first ballast element or for common raising of both ballast elements at a further point above a total center of gravity of the mutually connected ballast elements, the assembly device comprises an elongate part and a head part arranged at an end of the elongate part, with the head part comprising the abutment elements and being rotatable and/or telescopic relative to the first ballast element, and the first ballast element has a first recess at an upper side in which the head part can be completely lowered in a parked position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further features and details of the disclosure result from the embodiments explained in the following with reference to the Figures. There are shown:

(2) FIGS. 1a-b: perspective views of an embodiment of a mobile crane known from the prior art;

(3) FIG. 2: the ballast device in accordance with the disclosure in accordance with an embodiment in a perspective view;

(4) FIG. 3: a section through the ballast device in accordance with FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4: a section through the first ballast element;

(6) FIG. 5: the lower side of the first ballast element;

(7) FIG. 6: the assembly device in accordance with an embodiment in a perspective view;

(8) FIG. 7: a section through the head part of the assembly device in accordance with FIG. 6 latched to the first ballast element; and

(9) FIG. 8: a perspective view of a superstructure ballast with two laterally assembled ballast devices in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIGS. 1a and 1b show two views of a mobile crane 1 that is known from the prior art and that has already been initially explained in detail. A repeat description is therefore dispensed with here. It must, however, generally be noted that the ballast device in accordance with the disclosure can also be used with other cranes, for example with mobile cranes having a crawler chassis.

(11) An embodiment of the ballast device 10 in accordance with the disclosure is perspectively shown in FIG. 2 that can be attached, like the suspension ballast 9 shown in FIGS. 1a-b, laterally to the superstructure ballast of a mobile crane 1 or to the ballast plates 6 forming it. The ballast device 10 in accordance with the disclosure thus represents a double suspension ballast.

(12) The ballast device 10 in accordance with the disclosure comprises a first ballast element 12 that can be hooked to the superstructure ballast of a mobile crane 1 from above via first connection means 46 configured as projections. For this purpose, for example, the ballast plates 6 supported on the ballast mounting apparatus 5 have mounts 47 for forming shape-matched dovetail connections. Alternatively or additionally, such mounts 47 can be directly provided at the ballast mounting apparatus 5. The ballast device 10 furthermore comprises a second ballast element 14 that can be hooked into the first ballast element 12 from above. For this purpose, the ballast elements 12, 14 have corresponding second connection means 48, 49 in the form of projections 48 and mounts 49. The two ballast elements 12, 14 each held securely in position by gravity due to the suspension connections.

(13) In the embodiment shown here, the two ballast elements 12, 14 have different shapes. Whereas the first ballast element 12 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, the second ballast element 14 is substantially conically or trapezoidally shaped viewed from above. However, different shapes are naturally also conceivable here as is an identical design of the two ballast elements 12, 14.

(14) The first ballast element 12 comprises an assembly device 16 configured as an assembly mandrel that as an element of the first ballast element 12 is not removed therefrom for transport or for mounting, but rather remains thereat. The ballast device 10 can be raised via an abutment means of the mobile crane 1 for self-mounting via a plurality of abutment elements 18, 20 arranged in the upper region of the assembly device 16.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a central vertical section through the ballast device 10 in accordance with the disclosure in accordance with FIG. 2, i.e. through both ballast elements 12, 14 and through the assembly device 16. The center of gravity S1 of the first ballast element 12 and the total center of gravity S2 of the total balance device 10, i.e. of the ballast elements 12, 14, connected to one another, are likewise drawn in FIG. 3. The total center of gravity S2 is located outside the first ballast element 12. An abutment above the center of gravity S1 is therefore not possible for a lift of the total ballast device 10 (total lift) since it would tilt. The abutment means has to be attached above the respective center of gravity S1, S2 for a stable orientation. An abutment of the abutment means at the second ballast element 14 is likewise not possible since the suspension connection of the second connection means 48, 49 would otherwise release.

(16) For this reason, the assembly device 16 has two separate and spaced apart pairs of abutment elements 18, 20 to be able to selectively lift only the first ballast element 12 or both ballast elements 12 and 14 together and to nevertheless always ensure a stable orientation. The assembly device, that is perspectively shown individually in FIG. 6, for this purpose comprises an elongate, cylindrical part 22 that is displaceably supported along its longitudinal axis and is rotatably supported about it within a guide channel 28 that is formed in the first ballast element 12 and that substantially extends through the total ballast element 12. A head part 24 is arranged at the upper end of the elongate part 22 and is formed by an arm or cantilever projecting at one side from the elongate part 22.

(17) The head part 24 has two first abutment elements 18 in the form of laterally projecting bollards that are thus always substantially arranged above the center of gravity S1 of the first ballast element 12 in the region of the connection to the elongate part 22. The head part 24 has two second abutment elements 20 likewise projecting as lateral bollards at the end of the arm remote from the elongate part 22. The distance between the first and second abutment elements 18, 20 here corresponds to the distance between the centers of gravity S1 and S2. The second abutment elements 20 can be positioned above the total center of gravity S2 (assembly position) by rotation of the assembly device 16.

(18) To mount the superstructure ballast of the mobile crane 1, the operator stacks the ballast plates 6 on the ballast mounting apparatus 5 placed on the undercarriage 2 as known from the prior art. If the mounting state of the mobile crane 1 requires further suspension ballast, the assembly device 16 can be removed at the different abutment elements 18, 20 depending on the demand by means of an abutment means and the telescopic boom.

(19) On a use as a simple attachment (single lift), only the first ballast element 12 is received at the first abutment elements 18 and is connected via the projections 46 to the already stacked ballast 6 or is hooked into the corresponding mounts 47. On a use as a double suspension ballast (total lift), the packet of first and second ballast elements 12, 14 already connected via the second connection means 48, 49 is taken up at the second abutment elements 20 located in the assembly position and is connected, likewise via the projections 46 of the first ballast element 12, to the stacked ballast 6.

(20) The first ballast element 12 has a first recess 28 at the upper side that is connected to the guide channel 28 and is open to the top. Prior to the release of the abutment means from the respective abutment elements 18, 20, the assembly device 16 or its head part 24 can be lowered in the first recess 28 (parked position) so that the assembly device 16 does not project beyond the outer contour of the first ballast element 12. In this process, the assembly device 16 lowers independently due to gravity after the release of the abutment means until the head part 24 abuts the lower side of the first recess 28. The further ballasting subsequently takes place in a known manner via the ballasting cylinders 8.

(21) At the (lower) end disposed opposite the head part 24, the elongate part 22 has an abutment 30 that limits a pulling out of the assembly device 16 to a specific height. In the embodiment shown here, the abutment 30 is formed as a (latch) plate in the form of an equilateral triangle, with other shapes likewise being possible, for example a pin or a differently shaped plate. The guide channel 26 merges in the lower region into a second recess 34 that is open toward the lower side of the first ballast element 12 and within which the plate 30 is located. The assembly device 16 can be pulled out so far toward the top until the upper side of the plate 30 abuts the upper boundary of the second recess 34 that thereby forms a counter-abutment 32. This situation is shown in FIG. 3.

(22) If the assembly device 16 is completely extended, the head part 24, that is now located above the upper side of the first ballast element 12, can be rotated into the assembly position. So that the second abutment elements 20 are also actually positioned above the total center of gravity S2, three lateral counter-abutments 37 are formed in the second recess 34 at which the three sides of the plate 30 abut that form corresponding lateral abutments 36 as soon as the correct assembly position has been reached. This can be recognized in FIG. 5 in which a plan view of the lower side of the first ballast element 12 is shown. A section through the first ballast element 12 and the guide channel 26 can be seen in FIG. 4, with here the assembly device 16 being lowered and the head part 24 being completely traveled into the first recess 28.

(23) The angular position of the assembly device 16 in which the head part 24 is lowerable in the first recess 28 is defined by three further corresponding counter-abutments 37. Two pairs of counter-abutments 37 thus each define an angular range within which the assembly device 16 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the elongate part 22. The sides of the plate 30 and the counter-abutments 37 cooperate in the azimuthal direction. Instead of a second recess 34 open to the bottom, provision can also be made that it is formed within the first ballast element 12.

(24) To fix or lock the assembly device 16 in the assembly position, a shape-matched latching connection is provided by means of a latching mechanism such as is shown with reference to an embodiment in FIG. 7 in a sectional view through the latched head part 24. The latching mechanism comprises a latching pin 40 that is held at/in the head part 24 and that is connected to a lever element or handle 34. A spring 42 adjusts the latching pin 40 back into the maximally deflected base position. A cutout 44 formed as a positioning groove is provided at the upper side of the first ballast element 12. If the latching pin 40 has latched into the positioning groove 44 via the spring 42, the second abutment elements 20 are in the correct position above the total center of gravity S2. It can hereby also be reliably recognized by the operator whether the head part is in the correct assembly position, with corresponding markings being able to be provided for better visibility.

(25) The operator connects the first abutment means to the first abutment elements 18 for a single lift and raises the assembly device 16. The latter slides upward in the guide channel 26 until the plate 30 abuts the upper side of the second recess 34. From this moment onward, the assembly device 16 takes along the first ballast element 12 so that the latter can be attached to the remaining ballast. The head part 24 does not have to be further oriented or rotated due to the central position of the first abutment elements 18.

(26) The operator connects the abutment means to the second abutment elements 20 for a total lift and raises the assembly device 16 off center. The latter slides upward in the guide channel 26 despite the off center abutment until the head part 24 has completely left the first recess 28. As can be recognized in FIG. 4, two guides 38 that are spaced apart sufficiently far can form the guide channel 26. The latching pin 40 has to be raised so that the operator can rotate the assembly device 16 into the assembly position (the latter is shown in FIGS. 2-3). The plate 30 rotates along until it abuts the three lateral counter-abutments 37 and is thus in the desired position. At the same time, the latching pin 40 automatically latches to the first ballast element 12 in the positioning groove 44. From this moment onward, the assembly device 16 takes along the total ballast device 10 on the raising and the double suspension ballast 10 can be attached to the remaining ballast 6.

(27) FIG. 8 shows two ballast stacks formed by a plurality of ballast pallets 6 as ballast devices 10 in accordance with the disclosure suspended as double suspension ballast, with the assembly devices 16 each being in their lowered parked positions.

(28) More than two ballast elements 12, 14 can naturally also be used. For this purpose, the head 24 of the assembly device 16 has to be formed correspondingly longer or be foldable, telescopic, or otherwise adjustable so that the second abutment elements 20 are always positionable above the respective total center of gravity. It is likewise conceivable with a suspension ballast that can be assembled in modular form that further abutment elements are provided in addition to first and second abutment elements 18, 20 so that the abutment means can be attached above the respective total center of gravity depending on the configuration.

(29) The mobile crane 1 stacks the total ballast with all the ballast elements using its own telescopic boom 4 on the intended points on the undercarriage 2. The superstructure 3 subsequently rotates its ballast mounting apparatus 5 to take up the total ballast via the ballast.

(30) No component may project into the rotation radius of the superstructure 3 and of the ballast mounting apparatus 5 during this rotation. The high ballast elements in FIGS. 1a and 1b are further out and so do not interfere. If the assembly device 16 were to remain in the elevated position in accordance with FIG. 3, a collision would take place on the rotation of the superstructure 3.

(31) It should consequently be ensured that the assembly device 16 has been moved into its lowered position again after the hooking in of the suspension ballast (FIG. 4). This is done by a skillful selection of the upper termination of the second ballast element 14. The latter should only be so distant from the second abutment elements 20 that the load suspension means used cannot be removed. In its parked position, that is in the recess 28, so much space is provided, in contrast, that the abutment means are freely removable. FIGS. 2-8 are drawn to scale, although other relative dimensions may be used if desired.

(32) FIGS. 2-8 show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example.

(33) The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations regarded as novel and non-obvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

(34) 1 mobile crane 2 undercarriage 3 superstructure 4 telescopic boom 5 ballast mounting apparatus 6 ballast plate 7 luffing ram 8 ballasting cylinder 9 suspension ballast 10 ballasting device 12 first ballast element 14 second ballast element 16 assembly device 18 first abutment elements 20 second abutment elements 22. elongate part 24 head part 26 guide channel 28 first recess 30 abutment 32 counter-abutment 34 second abutment 36 lateral abutment 38 guide 40 latching element 42 spring element 43 lever element 44 cutout 46 suspension nose (first connection means) 47 mount (first connection means) 48 suspension nose (second connection means) 49 mount (second connection means) S1 center of gravity of the first ballast element S2 total center of gravity of the two ballast elements