CRANE CONTROL

Abstract

A crane control for a crane includes at least one operating unit operable by an operator for controlling working functions of the crane. Control signals can be input to actuators of the crane by the operating unit, and a mounting arrangement is provided for mounting the operating unit in a driving cab of the vehicle and a support arrangement connects the operating unit to the mounting arrangement. The support arrangement for the operating unit is supported limitedly moveably between at least two positions, a first position of which is in the form of a working position in which the operating unit is between a steering arrangement of the vehicle and a driving seat, and a second position of which is in the form of a storage position in which the operating unit is moved away from the steering arrangement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A crane control for a crane arranged on a vehicle, comprising at least one operating unit operable by an operator for controlling working functions of the crane, wherein control signals can be input to actuators of the crane by means of the operating unit, wherein there is provided a mounting arrangement for mounting the operating unit in a driving cab of the vehicle and a support arrangement for the operating unit, which connects the operating unit to the mounting arrangement, wherein the support arrangement for the operating unit is supported limitedly moveably between at least two positions of which one position is in the form of a working position in which the operating unit is between a steering arrangement of the vehicle and a driving seat and of which another position is in the form of a storage position in which the operating unit is moved away from the steering arrangement of the vehicle.

2. The crane control according to claim 1, further comprising a visualization unit for visualization of a working environment of the crane.

3. The crane control according to claim 2, wherein the visualization unit is in the form of a mobile unit so that it is moveable independently of the operating unit and is preferably wearable on the body by an operator.

4. The crane control according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement is arranged pivotably relative to the mounting arrangement and/or displaceably on the mounting arrangement.

5. The crane control according to claim 4, wherein the support arrangement has at least two parts which are pivotable relative to each other and of which the one part supports the operating unit and the mounting arrangement is arranged on the other part, where the limited movement of the operating unit between the working position and the storage position is effected by a pivotal movement of the two parts which are pivotable relative to each other.

6. The crane control according to one of the two preceding claims wherein the support arrangement has at least two parts which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part supports the operating unit and the mounting arrangement is arranged on the other part, wherein the limited movement of the operating unit between the working position and the storage position is effected by a preferably linear displacement of the two parts which are displaceable relative to each other.

7. The crane control according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement has an adjustment device for adaptation of a position of the operating unit in the working position relative to an operator.

8. A vehicle comprising a crane and a crane control according to claim 1, wherein the mounting arrangement of the crane control is mounted in a driving cab of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit in the storage position is arranged beside a driving seat of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit in the storage position is arranged above a driving seat of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit in the storage position is arranged in front of or behind a driving seat of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Embodiments of the invention are discussed with reference to the Figures in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle with a crane,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a known operating unit in a driving cab,

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a driving cab with a crane control according to the invention,

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional view of a driving cab with a further crane control according to the invention,

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective sectional view of a driving cab with a further crane control according to the invention,

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a driving cab with a further crane control according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a proposed crane control with an operating unit in the storage position of the support arrangement, and

[0027] FIG. 8 shows the operating unit of FIG. 7 in a working position of the storage arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 having a driving cab 4 and a crane in the form of a loading crane arranged on the vehicle 1. An operating unit 2 for controlling working functions of the crane 5 is arranged in the driving cab 4.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows an operating unit 2 in the driving cab 4 of the vehicle 1 according to the state of the art. The operating unit 2 is mounted to a passenger seat 7 and includes two operating levers in the form of joysticks 6 mounted on vertically pivotable armrests of the passenger seat 7. As illustrated an operator 8 wears a visualization unit 3 for visualizing a working environment of the crane 5.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective sectional view of a driving cab 4 with a crane control according to the invention including an operating unit 2 which as illustrated is in a working position, in which case then the operating unit 2 is between a steering arrangement 10 of the vehicle 1 and a driving seat 9. The crane control includes a support arrangement 11here in the form of a pivotal leverfor the operating unit 2, which is arranged pivotably relative to a mounting arrangement 12here in the form of a support pin. The operator 8 shown here, otherwise than as illustrated, can wear a visualization unit 3 for visualization of a working environment of the crane 5, in which case the visualization unit 3 can be a mobile unit (for example virtual reality goggles) so that it is moveable independently of the operating unit 2 (see FIG. 2).

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a further variant of a crane control. In this example an operating unit 2 is shown in a storage position in which the operating unit 2 is arranged above a driving seat 9 of the vehicle 1, in which the operating unit 2 is moved away from a steering arrangement 10 of the vehicle 1. By virtue of a pivotal movement of the support arrangement 11 the operating unit 2 can be moved into a working position, in which case then the operating unit 2 is between the steering arrangement 10 of the vehicle 1 and the driving seat 9.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a further variant of a crane control. In this example an operating unit 2 is shown in a position between a storage position and a working position. By virtue of a displacement of the support arrangement 11 which here is provided with two parts 11a, 11b which are telescopic relative to each other, the operating unit 2 can be moved into the working position or the storage position. The support arrangement 11 has two parts 11a, 11b which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part 11b supports the operating unit 2 and the mounting arrangement 12here in the form of a support pinis arranged on the other part 11a, wherein the limited movement of the operating unit 2 between the working position and the storage position is effected by a preferably linear displacement of the two parts 11a, 11b which are displaceable relative to each other.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a further variant of a crane control arranged in a driving cab 4 of a vehicle 1. A driving seat 9 and a passenger seat 7 are disposed in the driving cab 4. An operator 8 sits in the driving seat 9. For reasons of clarity of the drawing the steering arrangement 10 which would be in front of the operator 8 is not shown here. The Figure shows an operating unit 2 in a storage position in which the operating unit 2 is arranged beside the driving seat 9. The support arrangement 11 and the mounting arrangement 12 can be of the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows an operating unit 2 supported on a support arrangement 11, wherein the support arrangement 11 is in a storage position in which the operating unit 2 is moved away from a steering arrangement 10 of a vehicle 1 (see FIG. 6). The operating unit 2 can be mounted in a driving cab 4 of the vehicle 1for example by screwing to the floor of the driving cab 4by means of a mounting arrangement 12. The support arrangement 11 is arranged on the mounting arrangement 12 pivotably relative to the latter.

[0035] FIG. 8 shows the support arrangement 11 with the operating unit 2 of FIG. 7 mounted thereto, in a working position. The support arrangement 11 has an adjustment device 13 for adaptation of a position of the operating unit 2 in the working position relative to an operator 8. The adjustment device 13 has two parts 13a, 13b which are displaceable relative to each other and of which the one part 13b carries the operating unit 2 and the mounting arrangement 12 is arranged on the other part 13a.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0036] 1 vehicle

[0037] 2 operating unit

[0038] 3 visualization unit

[0039] 4 driving cab

[0040] 5 crane

[0041] 6 joystick

[0042] 7 passenger seat

[0043] 8 operator

[0044] 9 driving seat

[0045] 10 steering arrangement

[0046] 11 support arrangement

[0047] 11a part of the support arrangement

[0048] 11b other part of the support arrangement

[0049] 12 mounting arrangement

[0050] 13 adjustment device

[0051] 13a part of the adjustment device

[0052] 13b other part of the adjustment device