Mobile crane

Abstract

A vehicle crane having a lower carriage with a longitudinal axis and a superstructure that is rotatable about a vertical axis includes at least one base support and at least two side supports arranged on the lower carriage, where the base support and the side supports can be supported with respect to the ground. The two side supports are each arranged on the lower carriage via a support carrier and oppositely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage, and precisely two side supports are arranged on the lower carriage. Each base support is arranged oppositely with respect to the two side supports in relation to the vertical axis and as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a rotary connection support for the superstructure is arranged on the lower carriage and the two support carriers are arranged remotely from the rotary connection support.

Claims

1. A vehicle crane comprising: a lower carriage with a longitudinal axis and a superstructure that is arranged on the lower carriage and is rotatable about a vertical axis, wherein a telescopic main jib is arranged in a luffable manner on the superstructure; a lifting winch arranged on the superstructure and connected to a lifting cable running along the telescopic main jib to a hook for lifting and lowering goods; precisely one base support arranged on the lower carriage or precisely two base supports arranged on the lower carriage and aligned, as seen in the plan view of the lower carriage, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage; and at least two side supports arranged on the lower carriage; wherein the base support and the side supports are configured to be supported with respect to the ground, and wherein the at least two side supports are each arranged on the lower carriage via two support carriers and oppositely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage, and wherein precisely two side supports are arranged on the lower carriage; and wherein each base support is arranged oppositely with respect to the at least two side supports in relation to the vertical axis and as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a rotary connection support for the superstructure is arranged on the lower carriage and the two support carriers are arranged remotely from the rotary connection support, and wherein the support carriers are arranged in a displaceable and/or pivotable manner on the lower carriage and/or the support carriers are telescopic; wherein each base support is arranged within a longitudinal plane spanned between the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage.

2. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis the two support carriers are arranged at a distance of at least 1.5 m from the rotary connection support.

3. A vehicle crane comprising: a lower carriage with a longitudinal axis and a superstructure that is arranged on the lower carriage and is rotatable about a vertical axis; a telescopic main jib arranged in a luffable manner on the superstructure; a lifting winch arranged on the superstructure and connected to a lifting cable running along the telescopic main jib to a hook for lifting and lowering goods; precisely one base support arranged on the lower carriage or precisely two base supports arranged on the lower carriage and aligned, as seen in the plan view of the lower carriage, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage; and at least two side supports arranged on the lower carriage; wherein the base support and the side supports are configured to be supported with respect to the ground, and wherein the at least two side supports are each arranged on the lower carriage via a support carrier and oppositely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage, and wherein precisely two side supports are arranged on the lower carriage; and wherein each base support is arranged oppositely with respect to the at least two side supports in relation to the vertical axis and as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and a rotary connection support for the superstructure is arranged on the lower carriage and the two support carriers are arranged remotely from the rotary connection support; wherein each base support is arranged within a longitudinal plane spanned between the vertical axis and the longitudinal axis of the lower carriage.

4. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis the two support carriers are arranged at a distance of at least 1.5 m from the rotary connection support.

5. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support carriers are arranged in a displaceable and/or pivotable manner on the lower carriage and/or the support carriers are telescopic.

6. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one or each base support is arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the lower carriage.

7. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one or each base support is arranged underneath the lower carriage.

8. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one or each base support is arranged on the lower carriage so as to be foldable or pivotable via a base carrier.

9. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one or each base support is arranged on the lower carriage so as to be foldable about a horizontal axis or pivotable about a vertical axis.

10. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one or each base support for providing support with respect to the ground can be extended vertically or at an angle in the range of 0 to 45° to a vertical in order to enlarge the tilting area of the vehicle crane.

11. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two support carriers are arranged on the lower carriage in the region of a free end of the lower carriage.

12. The vehicle crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower carriage consists of a front frame and a rear frame, between which a pot is arranged.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a vehicle crane from the prior art in a schematic perspective view;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of an inventive lower carriage for a vehicle crane having support carriers located in a support position;

(3) FIG. 3 shows an otherwise unchanged view of the lower carriage of FIG. 2 having support carriers which are changed from the support position to a travel position; and

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of a portion of the lower carriage of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates the schematic view of a vehicle crane 1, which can travel on roads, from the prior art. The vehicle crane 1 comprises a lower carriage 2 which has a running gear unit 3 with three running gear unit axles 3a, 3b, 3c by way of example in this case. These running gear unit axles 3a, 3b, 3c which extend in relation to a longitudinal axis X of the lower carriage 2 transversely and in this respect in parallel with a transverse axis Y of the lower carriage 2 and are not directly visible owing to the illustration are arranged one behind the other along the longitudinal axis X. At the opposite ends of the running gear unit axles 3a, 3b, 3c, in each case at least one rubber-tired wheel is rotatably arranged, via which the vehicle crane 1 is supported so as to be movable on a ground U. As cannot directly be seen here but as can be seen in the further FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower carriage 2 has a pot 4, on which a superstructure 5 is mounted and is rotatable about a vertical axis Z. Purely by way of example, the pot 4 is located between the one front running gear unit axle 3a and its two rear running gear unit axles 3b, 3c. Contrary to what is illustrated here, the lower carriage 2 can of course also have only two or more than three running gear unit axles 3a, 3b, 3c, wherein the pot 4 is then located in a correspondingly suitable manner between two of these running gear unit axles 3a, 3b, 3c. Furthermore, a telescopic main jib 6 is arranged on the superstructure 5, the state of said main jib which is retracted in the present case being reduced in the illustration substantially to its basic box, whereas its inner boxes which can be displaced with respect thereto and relative to one another are arranged in a correspondingly concealed manner within the basic box. The main jib 6 is luffably supported on the superstructure 5 such that it can be luffed about a substantially horizontal axis via at least one luffing cylinder 7 which is only indicated in this case. The vehicle crane 1 includes a lifting winch 14 connected to lifting cable 15 that runs along the main jib 6 to a hook 16. It can be seen that the superstructure 5 in the embodiment shown here by way of example has a driver's cabin 5a.

(6) FIG. 2 shows an inventive lower carriage 2 for a vehicle crane 1 or a vehicle crane 1 which is reduced to its inventive lower carriage 2. In this case, the number of running gear unit axles 3a, 3b, 3c and the position of the pot 4 have also been selected purely by way of example for illustrative purposes. The further components of the vehicle crane 1 and/or of the lower carriage 2 which are not illustrated in greater detail in this case can correspond to the embodiment and arrangement already shown in FIG. 1. In particular, by reason of the view of the lower carriage 2 in accordance with the invention which in this case is reduced to a purely schematic top view—in addition to the regions which cannot be seen or cannot be seen easily due to being concealed—the features which are essential to the invention can be seen more easily.

(7) The lower carriage 2 comprises a basic framework 8 which has a front frame 8a and a rear frame 8b. It can be seen that the pot 4 is arranged between the front frame 8a and the rear frame 8b or at least partially in the basic framework 8. The pot 4 thus forms a part of the basic framework 8, to which the front frame 8a and rear frame 8b are connected opposite one another along the longitudinal axis X. Alternatively to what is shown here, it is also feasible for the pot 4 to rest on the front frame 8a and/or the rear frame 8b and for said pot to be able to be arranged at least partially in the front frame 8a and/or in the rear frame 8b. This embodiment is also intended to be covered by the feature that the pot 4 is arranged between the front frame 8a and rear frame 8b.

(8) The pot 4 has, at its upper end in the direction of the vertical axis Z, a circumferential rotary connection support 4a which typically corresponds to a rotary connection, not illustrated in greater detail here, for the superstructure 5. In the present case, a bearing block 9 which can be part of the basic framework 8 is arranged in the region of a free end E2 of the rear frame 8b. Arranged on the bearing block 9 are two support carriers 10a, 10b which, in the embodiment shown here, are supported in or on the bearing block 9 in such a manner as to be linearly retractable and extendible. In the present case, both support carriers 10a, 10b are located in their support position, in which in an extended state they extend in parallel with the transverse axis Y of the lower carriage 2.

(9) In the illustrated embodiment, the lower carriage 2 comprises on the whole one base support 11 and two side supports 12a, 12b, of which in each case one side support 12a, 12b is arranged in the region of the respective free end of the two support carriers 10a, 10b. Specifically, the side support 12a is arranged on the support carrier 10a on the left in relation to the view of FIG. 2, whereas the side support 12 is fixed to the support carrier 10b on the left with respect thereto. In the present case, the further base support 11 is arranged on the front frame 8a. Alternatively, two base supports 11 can be arranged—in a manner not shown in greater detail—on the basic framework 8 and are then located either together or separate from one another on the front frame 8a and/or on the rear frame 8b. If in each case one base support 11 is arranged on the front frame 8a and a further base support 11 is arranged on the rear frame 8b, they can be oriented in their position preferably along or at least in the region of the longitudinal axis X. The base supports 11 and side supports 12a, 12b which extend e.g. in parallel with the vertical axis Z are, in a manner not shown in greater detail, hydraulically variable in length and thus are vertically retractable and extendible such that the lower carriage 2 can be supported thereby, in addition to its running gear unit 3, with respect to the ground U. In contrast to the—in this case longitudinally displaceable—configuration of the support carriers 10a, 10b, they can e.g. also be arranged pivotably on the basic framework 8 in a manner not shown in greater detail. Combinations of the foregoing are likewise feasible. In each case, the side supports 12a, 12b arranged on the support carriers 10a, 10b can thus be displaced between a travel position close to the basic framework 8 and a support position which, in contrast thereto, is remote from the basic framework 8. In the travel position, the side supports 12a, 12b are located as closely as possible on the basic framework 8 and are raised from the ground U such that the vehicle crane 1 is freely movable.

(10) The position of the support carriers 10a, 10b shown in FIG. 2, and also in FIG. 3, is selected purely by way of example and alternatively can be located e.g. also in the region of a free end E1 of the front frame 8a, while the base support 11 can then be located on the rear frame 8b. Basically, the support carriers 10a, 10b are always located outside the region of the pot 4 or the rotary connection support 4a, in particular outside a corridor K of the lower carriage 2 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

(11) Spanned between the vertical axis Z and the longitudinal axis X of the lower carriage 2 is a longitudinal plane XE which in this respect is perpendicular to the top view plane. Preferably, the at least one base support 11 can be arranged within this longitudinal plane XE and can extend therein. Furthermore, the vertical axis Z located in the center of the pot 4 and the transverse axis Y of the lower carriage 2 extending at a right angle to the longitudinal axis X of the lower carriage 2 span a transverse plane YE there between which in this respect is likewise perpendicular to the top view shown in this case. Accordingly, the vertical axis Z extends precisely along the section between the longitudinal plane XE and the transverse plane YE. Extending in parallel with the transverse plane YE are two tangential planes T1, T2 which lie tangentially in each case on a region of the pot 4 or its rotary connection support 4a facing the front frame 8a and on a region thereof facing the rear frame 8b. The two tangential planes T1, T2 include there between the corridor K already discussed above, wherein the two support carriers 10a, 10b in accordance with the invention are arranged essentially outside this corridor K. In relation to the purely exemplified view of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the two support carriers 10a, 10b are spaced far apart from said corridor K. In contrast thereto, they can of course also be arranged in a manner moved closer to the corridor K in a manner not shown, wherein they are always located outside the corridor K.

(12) Between the base support 11 located in the region of the front frame 8a and the two side supports 12a, 12b located in the rear region of the rear frame 8b on the extended support carriers 10a, 10b there is formed an imaginary triangular tilting area F which imparts to the vehicle crane 1 the stability in relation to occurring tilting moments, which is required during its use, in particular when picking up and manipulating a load. By reason of the support carriers 10a, 10b, of which there are only two in accordance with the invention, the omission of otherwise typical installation regions for additional support carriers means that there is considerably more installation space available on the basic framework 8, e.g. for motor installation.

(13) In a preferred embodiment, the at least one base support 11 cannot be displaced and in this respect is arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the basic frame 8. Of course, this does not include a vertical or oblique extension of this at least one base support 11. By means of this oblique extension, a further enlargement of the tilting area of the vehicle crane can be achieved because in this case the respective base support 11 for providing support with respect to the ground U is extended at an angle in the range of more than 0 to 45°, preferably 15 to 30°, with respect to a vertical (FIG. 4). As a result, a support plate which is typically fastened to the lower end of the base support 11 moves to a position further away from the centre of gravity of the lower carriage 2 in contact with the ground U.

(14) Alternatively, at least one of the base supports 11 can, however, also be connected to the basic framework 8 of the lower carriage 2 in a manner not shown in greater detail, e.g. via an additional relatively short base carrier 13 (FIG. 3). This at least one base carrier 13 can be articulated in a manner pivotable about a vertical axis or horizontal axis, which then means that the at least one base support 11 is advantageously displaceable via the base carrier 13. In particular, in the case of the alternative arrangement of two base supports 11 on the lower carriage 2, in particular on its front frame 8a or rear frame 8b, it can be advantageous in terms of an enlargement of the tilting area F and at the same time a simple construction to configure the base supports 11 to be displaceable, as described above. By virtue of the arrangement of at least two base supports 11 together on the front frame 8a and/or rear frame 8b, the otherwise triangular tilting area F can be expanded to form a trapezium, whereby in particular improved deformation properties, such as e.g. less rotation and/or bending, of the lower carriage 2 can be achieved. In the folded-out or pivoted-out state, the precisely two base supports are then aligned, as seen in the plan view of the lower carriage 2, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the lower carriage 2.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the view of FIG. 2 with support carriers 10a, 10b (travel position) now retracted into the bearing block 9 in the direction of the indicated arrows. It can be seen that for this purpose they slide laterally past one another in a plane extending substantially in parallel with the ground U. Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown here the two support carriers 10a, 10b can extend coaxially with respect to one another, which, however, reduces their support length in relation to the bearing block 9 and/or requires on the whole a short installation length of the support carriers 10a, 10b in order to achieve the most compact dimensions possible in the retracted state. By virtue of the preferably continuously linear displaceability of the support carriers 10a, 10b, the shape of the tilting area F as a whole can be changed in order, where required, to be able to make possible adaptations to the respective requirements in relation to the stability of the vehicle crane 1.

(16) The inventive reduction to only two support carriers 10a, 10b means that fewer primary support carriers have to be transported and undergo maintenance, which contributes in particular to an advantageous weight reduction. The installation space thus gained through the omission of corresponding bearing blocks for connecting further support carriers can be used e.g. for reducing the length of the lower carriage 2 and/or for accommodating existing and/or new components of the vehicle crane 1.

(17) The lower carriage 2 shown in the preceding exemplified embodiment is made up of the front frame 8a, the pot 4 and the rear frame 8b, wherein the pot 4 carries the rotary connection support 4a. Fundamentally, it is also feasible for the lower carriage 2 to have a continuous basic frame 8, on which the rotary connection support 4a is arranged, with the pot 4 being omitted.

(18) Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.