Crane tower

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crane tower comprising a crane tower base, which has a crane tower or a crane tower element fixed thereto and from which the crane tower extends upwards, and a tension element for bracing the crane tower 1 on the crane tower base. The tension element has one of its two ends connected to the crane tower base and its respective other end connected to the crane tower or to a coupling element that is connected to the crane tower. The crane tower is characterized in that the tension element extends outside of the crane tower. It is thus possible to reduce the dimensions of the crane tower without causing any change of bending resistance or to increase the bending resistance on the basis of the same dimensions.

Claims

1. A crane tower comprising: a crane tower base, which has the crane tower fixed thereto and from which the crane tower extends upwards, a tension element for bracing the crane tower on the crane tower base, the tension element having one of two ends connected to the crane tower base and a respective other end of the two ends connected to a first coupling element, wherein the crane tower base is a foundation of the crane tower, and a plurality of intermediate coupling elements positioned between the first coupling element and the crane tower base, the plurality of intermediate coupling elements further connecting the tension element to the crane tower, wherein the first coupling element is connected to the crane tower and the plurality of intermediate coupling elements is connected to the crane tower, wherein the tension element extends outside of the crane tower, and wherein the tension element is parallel to the crane tower from the first coupling element to the crane tower base, including along and between each of the plurality of intermediate coupling elements.

2. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling element, which is connected to one end of the tension element, projects from the crane tower.

3. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling element and the plurality of intermediate coupling elements are evenly spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of the crane tower.

4. The crane tower according to claim 1, further comprising a second tension element, the second tension element and the first tension element being located in a common plane.

5. The crane tower according to claim 4, wherein the first tension element and the second tension element are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane.

6. The crane tower according to claim 5, wherein the mirror plane extends through a longitudinal axis of the crane tower.

7. The crane tower according to claim 4, wherein the first tension element and the second tension element are each connected to a coupling element associated therewith.

8. The crane tower according to claim 4, wherein each tension element comprises a jacketed, high-strength fiber rope.

9. The crane tower according to claim 8, wherein the fiber rope comprises aramid fibers.

10. The crane tower according to claim 4, wherein the common plane comprises a longitudinal direction of the crane tower or extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the crane tower.

11. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling element is a bracket, an adapter piece to a different type of crane tower, or a ball slewing ring support.

12. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein the foundation of the crane tower is a concrete foundation.

13. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein the crane tower is part of a climbing-type crane, and wherein the tension element climbs as a height of the climbing-type crane increases.

14. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein the tension element extends vertically.

15. The crane tower according to claim 14, wherein the tension element extends in a direction perpendicular to a ground plane.

16. The crane tower according to claim 1, wherein a distance that the first coupling element and the plurality of intermediate coupling elements project outward from the crane tower is substantially equal.

17. A rotating tower crane including a crane tower, the crane tower comprising: a crane tower base, which has the crane tower fixed thereto and from which the crane tower extends upwards, a tension element for bracing the crane tower on the crane tower base, the tension element being a high-strength fiber rope having one of two ends connected to the crane tower base and a respective other end of the two ends connected to a first coupling element, wherein the crane tower base is an undercarriage of the rotating tower crane, and wherein the first coupling element is connected to the crane tower and extends in a first direction relative to the crane tower, and one or more intermediate coupling elements positioned between the first coupling element and the crane tower base, the one or more intermediate coupling elements further connecting the tension element to the crane tower, wherein the one or more intermediate coupling elements are connected to the crane tower and extend in the first direction, wherein the tension element extends outside of the crane tower, the tension element parallel to the crane tower from the first coupling element to the crane tower base, including along and between each of the one or more intermediate coupling elements, and wherein the first coupling element and the one or more intermediate coupling elements are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the crane tower.

18. The crane rotating tower crane according to claim 17, wherein the first coupling element projects from the crane tower in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the crane tower, and wherein a distance that the first coupling element and the one or more intermediate coupling elements project outward from the crane tower is substantially equal.

19. The rotating tower crane according to claim 17, wherein the rotating tower crane is a top-slewing tower crane.

20. The rotating tower crane according to claim 17, wherein the first coupling element and the one or more intermediate coupling elements are evenly spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the crane tower.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a crane tower according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the crane tower according to the present invention in a side view.

(3) FIG. 3 shows, in a side view, a top-slewing tower crane including a crane tower according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a crane tower 1 that is fixed to a crane tower base 2. The crane tower base 2 has an upper surface, which faces the crane tower 1 and whose level is similar to that of the ground 7 surrounding the crane tower base 2. On a level spaced apart from the crane tower base 2, the crane tower 1 has provided thereon coupling elements 5 projecting from the crane tower 1. Each coupling element 5 has a tension element 3; 4, which is associated therewith and which connects the coupling element 5 to the crane tower base 2. The tension element 3; 4 extends downwards from its point of connection with the coupling element 5, substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the crane tower 1. Alternatively, the tension element 3; 4 may, however, also extend, in a manner that is here not shown, at an oblique angle or criss-cross relative to the crane tower base 2 from its point of connection with the coupling element 5. Due to the bracing of the tension element, the crane tower 1 can take up higher bending forces, thus allowing smaller dimensions of the rigid crane tower elements without causing any change of bending resistance. The crane superstructure can thus be transported more easily.

(5) FIG. 2 shows a crane tower according to the present invention in a side view. A plurality of vertically spaced coupling elements 5, 52, 53 can be seen, which project from the crane tower 1. The coupling elements 5, 52, 53, which are arranged one above the other, are connected to a respective associated tension element 3; 4, 32; 42, 33; 43. Hence, it can be said that a bracing plane is defined in the case of each coupling element 5, 52, 53 arranged on a specific level of the crane tower 1. According to the present embodiment, a next higher bracing plane, which already has a bracing plane extending therebelow, is connected by a tension element 4; 3 to said bracing plane extending therebelow.

(6) This will be particularly advisable for cranes which are increased in height through climbing. For this purpose, a coupling element 5 is connected via a tension element 3; 4 to a crane tower base 2 in a first step. The coupling elements 5 arranged closest to the ground 7 define the first bracing plane. If the crane tower 1 should additionally gain height beyond said first plane, so that further bracing of the crane tower 1 will make sense, the crane tower base 22 will define the first bracing plane for the bracing plane extending thereabove. The coupling element 52 is thus connected to the crane tower base 22 with the aid of a tension element 32; 42. The same applies to a third bracing plane, which is arranged above the second bracing plane and the coupling elements 53 of which are fixed to a crane tower base 23 via a respective tension element 33; 43. Thus, it is possible that the tension elements increase in height similar to a climbing of the crane tower 1.

(7) FIG. 3 shows a top-slewing tower crane 6 comprising a crane tower 1 according to the present invention. The crane tower base 2 according to this embodiment is an X-pattern foundation or an undercarriage. This X-pattern foundation or this undercarriage is connected to a tension element 3; 4 which extends up to a coupling element 5.