Mechanical locking head

Abstract

A locking head is configured such that it can be moved within and along the longitudinal axis of a telescope, which comprises at least two telescope sections, by means of a telescoping device, comprising a base body, at least one releasing device which is configured to release a telescope section lock and at least one coupling device which is configured to couple a telescope section with the telescoping device. The locking head comprises an operating member which mechanically acts on the releasing device and the coupling device in order to operate the releasing device and the coupling device. The operating member comprises a first link guide for the releasing device and a second link guide for the coupling device, wherein the links for the first and second link guides extend in a single plane or in parallel planes.

Claims

1. A locking head is configured for movement within and along a longitudinal axis of a telescope comprising at least two telescope sections, via a telescoping device, the locking head comprising: a base body, at least one releasing device configured to release a telescope section lock, the releasing device operably connected to a first guided element, at least one coupling device configured to couple the telescope sections with the telescoping device, the coupling device operably connected to a second guided element, an operating member which mechanically acts on the releasing device and the coupling device via the first and second guided elements, respectively, in order to operate the releasing device and the coupling device, the operating member comprising a first guiding element for guiding the first guided element and a second guiding element for guiding the second guided element, wherein the first and second guiding elements extend in at least one of a single plane or parallel planes, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder configured to move the operating member relative to the base body, and a return device configured to urge the operating member and the double-acting hydraulic cylinder into a middle position, wherein the middle position is a position in which the releasing device is in a locking position, and in which the coupling device is in a coupling position, wherein deflecting the double-acting hydraulic cylinder from the middle position in a return direction moves the operating member in the return direction causing at least a portion of the first guiding element to apply a first guiding force on the first guided element to move the first guided element, thereby operating the releasing device to move from the locking position to an unlocking position, while the coupling device remains in the coupling position, and wherein deflecting the double-acting hydraulic cylinder from the middle position in an operating direction, opposite to the return direction, moves the operating member in the operating direction causing at least a portion of the second guiding element to apply a second guiding force on the second guided element to move the second guided element, thereby operating the coupling device to move from the coupling position to an uncoupling position while the releasing device remains in the locking position.

2. The locking head as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first guided element and second guided element is guided in a direction extending transversely to the direction in which the operating member is moved.

3. The locking head as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the releasing device and the coupling device is guided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the operating member is moved in a translatory manner.

4. The locking head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasing device comprises a lever linked in an articulating arrangement about a bearing that is fixed relative to the body, the lever being configured to couple the movement of the first guided element of the releasing device with a movement of the telescope section lock.

5. The locking head as claimed in claim 1, having at least two releasing and coupling devices, respectively, acting in opposite directions.

6. The locking head as claimed in claim 5, wherein the directions in which the releasing and coupling devices are configured to extend horizontally.

7. The locking head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the return device is provided in the form of at least one spring.

8. A mobile crane having the telescope comprising the at least two telescope sections, and the locking head as claimed in claim 1 co-operating with the telescope.

9. The locking head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating member is configured to be moved relative to the base body in a translatory manner.

10. The locking head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second guided elements are configured to be moved in a translatory manner.

11. A locking head configured to be moved via a telescopic device, the locking head and the telescopic device configured to be positioned within a telescopic jib of a crane, the telescopic jib including a longitudinal axis along which the telescopic device and the locking head is movable, and the telescopic jib further including at least two telescope sections configured to move relative to each other, the locking head comprising: a base body; at least one releasing device configured to couple the locking head with a telescope section lock, the at least one releasing device operably coupled to a first movable guided element; at least one coupling device configured to couple the locking head to at least one of the telescope sections, the at least one coupling device operably coupled to a second movable guided element; an operating member having a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side, a first guiding element and a second guiding element, wherein the operating member is movable relative to the base body in an operating direction and a return direction opposite to the operating direction; and a return device configured to urge the operating member into a middle position, wherein the middle position is a position in which the releasing device is in a locking position, and in which the coupling device is in a coupling position, wherein the first movable guided element is engaged in the first guiding element from at least one of the first side and the second side of the operating member, and movement of the operating member from a middle position over a first length in the return direction, causes the first guiding element to move the first movable guided element to operate the releasing device between a locking position and an unlocking position while the coupling device is in a coupling position, and wherein the second movable guided element is engaged in the second guiding element and movement of the operating member from the middle position over a second length in the operating direction, causes the second guiding element to move the second guided element to operate the coupling device between the coupling position and an uncoupling position while the releasing device is in the locking position.

12. The locking head of claim 11, wherein the second movable guided element engages the second guiding element from at least one of the first side and the second side of the operating member that is different from the side from which the first movable guided element engages the first guiding element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an example of an embodiment. It may incorporate the features disclosed below individually or in combination. Of the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a locking head proposed by the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the locking head proposed by the invention.

(4) FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate the locking head proposed by the invention in a non-operating position (left) and in an operated position (right).

(5) FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the locking head proposed by the invention in a position fitted within a telescopic crane jib in a non-operating position (left) and in an operated position (right).

(6) FIGS. 5A-5C is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a double-acting hydraulic cylinder provided with a return device.

(8) FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the alternative embodiment of the locking head proposed by the invention in a non-operating position (left) and in an operated position (right).

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the alternative embodiment.

(10) FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate the alternative embodiment in a non-operating position (left) and an operated position (right).

(11) FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the alternative embodiment.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a mobile crane according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the locking head 2 proposed by the invention, which can be moved via of the telescoping device 1 within a telescopic jib (not illustrated). The locking head 2 is disposed on one end of the telescoping device 1 and is fixedly connected to it. The base body 3 forms the central structure of the locking head 2 and essentially accommodates all the other elements of the locking head 2 or provides a bearing for them.

(14) Provided on both sides of the locking head 2 are guides for bolts 5d of the coupling devices 5, and the direction of movement of the bolts 5d extends perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking head 2. By means of these bolts 5d, the locking head 2 is coupled with a telescope section to be extended or retracted, the locking bolts 5d engaging in co-operating holders on the telescope section.

(15) When the locking head 2 is in the fitted position within a crane jib, the locking head 2 also has two releasing devices 4 disposed at the top, each of which comprises two levers 4b which are able to move about a pivot bearing 13 (see FIGS. 9A, 9B) disposed on the base body 3. The levers 4b of the releasing devices 4 connect at their ends remote from the base body 3 by means of contact portions, not illustrated, which are able to engage in co-operating holders of a telescope section lock 14 (see FIGS. 7A-7C).

(16) The locking head 2 further comprises an operating member 6, which can be moved parallel with the direction of movement of the locking head 2 and relative to the base body 3. To this end, a hydraulic cylinder 7 is provided, disposed adjacent to the telescoping device 1 and co-operating with the locking head 2, which moves forwards (downwards on the left in FIG. 1) as the operating member 6 is extracted. In order to move the operating member 6 in the opposite direction, tension springs 8 are also provided, which transfer the operating member 6 back into a base position or at least support the cylinder 7 as this happens.

(17) As may also be seen, the operating member 6 has a forced guide element or a link guide 4c, 5c for both the coupling and releasing devices, in which the co-operating elements, or moved and guided elements, 4a, 5a of the releasing devices 4 and coupling devices 5, respectively, engage. What is of particular advantage in this respect is that the elements 4a and 5a engage in the link guides 4c, 5c of the operating member 6 from different sides, thereby enabling the operating member 6 to be disposed in a space-saving arrangement between the locking mechanism and the coupling mechanism. This means that neither the releasing device nor the coupling device has to move through the other or past it on the operating member 6. The movement of the operating member 6 along the longitudinal axis of the jib likewise contributes to this space-saving solution, as does the flat, horizontally extending orientation of the operating member 6.

(18) As one can easily imagine, as the operating member 6 moves forwards (downwards on the left in Figure) relative to the base body 3, the elements 4a, 5a engaging in the links 4c, 5c are moved transversely to the direction of movement of the operating member 6 because the other elements of the releasing devices 4 and coupling devices 5 are fixedly guided on the base body 3 of the locking head 2 so that a movement of these elements relative to the base body 3 in the direction of movement of the operating member 6 is not possible.

(19) FIG. 2 illustrates the link guide 4c, 5c of the operating member. As may also be seen, the bolts 5d of the coupling devices 5 are moved by means of the link guides 5c radially outwards, in other words out of the base body 3, as soon as the operating member 6 is moved out of its base position towards the left in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the locking head 2 is coupled with a telescope section lying around it by means of the coupling devices 5 immediately after the operating member 6 is operated. The elements 5a are directly coupled with the bolts 5d so that the bolts 5d are moved outwards as soon as the elements 5a are pushed outwards via the link guide 5c. The reverse operation is effected in the corresponding way. As may also be seen, the guides 4c and 5c are nested one in the other with their outermost portions lying at the same end of the operating member 6 (on the right-hand side in FIG. 2) as is the case with their portions lying innermost (on the left in FIG. 2). The double link guide 4c, 5c is therefore of a very compact design because the links are disposed very closely next to one another. This is also the case, regardless of the latter, because the link guides 4c, 5c extend horizontally, in other words cause operation of the elements engaging therein along a horizontal direction.

(20) As the operating member 6 continues to move towards the left, operation of the coupling devices 5 is halted because the distance of the co-operating link guides 5c no longer changes and instead, the guides 5c extend parallel with the direction of movement of the operating member 6. At the end of operating the coupling devices 5, the releasing devices 4 are operated and are so by means of the elements 4a moved in a guided arrangement and engaging in the link guides 4c. Up to this point in time, the releasing devices 4 remain in their base position because the link guide 4c extends parallel with the direction of movement of the operating member 6. However, as the course of the link guides 4c changes, in other words their distance increases, the elements 4a are moved outwards accordingly, and the movement of the elements 4a outwards is converted into an essentially oppositely directed movement of the contact portions, not illustrated, by means of the levers 4b. The contact portions, which were moved by means of the locking head 2 into a position in which they engage with co-operating holders of telescope section locking bolts before the operating member 6 was operated, are therefore moved back towards the vertical mid-plane of the locking head 2 and thus pull the telescope section locking bolts out of their holders in the respective outer telescope section.

(21) Once the locking head 2 has been coupled with the telescope section to be moved in a telescoping action and the corresponding telescope section lock has been released, the telescope section can be extended or retracted with the aid of the telescoping device 1. Once the desired position of the telescope section has been reached, the reverse operation of the operating member 6 is initiated by means of the hydraulic cylinder 7 and/or by means of the tension springs 8.

(22) Since the moved and guided elements 4a of the releasing devices 4 are moved back towards the horizontal mid-plane of the locking head 2, the contact portions together with the bolts of the telescope section lock are first of all moved outwards, thereby locking the coupled telescope section which is then still on the locking head 2. It is not until after the releasing device has been operated and the operating member 6 has been moved farther towards the right that the bolts 5d of the coupling devices 5 are pulled back into the base body 3 of the locking head 2 again and the telescope section is thus uncoupled from the locking head 2.

(23) FIGS. 5A to 5C provide schematic illustrations of an alternative embodiment of the locking head proposed by the invention in different positions. As may be seen from FIG. 5A, the hydraulic cylinder 7 and hence also the operating member 6 are in a middle position, which means that operation is possible in one direction as well as in the other direction. In this middle position, the locking head is coupled with the innermost telescope section by the coupling device 5, whilst this telescope section is also locked to the next outwardly lying telescope section. The position illustrated in FIG. 5A is not reached until the hydraulic cylinder 7 has been moved from the position of maximum deflection illustrated in FIG. 5B, in which the locking head is not yet coupled with the telescope section and can therefore be moved within the jib, into the middle position. When the hydraulic cylinder 7 is moved beyond this middle position into the other position of maximum deflection, the two telescope sections are released from one another by means of the releasing device 4, whilst the inwardly lying telescope section is still coupled with the locking head. In this position, the telescope section can finally be moved by means of the telescoping device. The schematically illustrated return device in the form of two springs 8 is constantly trying to urge the hydraulic cylinder 7 and hence also the operating member into the middle position so that the telescope section respectively being moved is secured by both the next outwardly lying telescope section and the locking head.

(24) FIG. 6 illustrates a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 7, which is supplied via hydraulic fluid intake lines 7b and 7c. The return device in the form of a spring 8 is disposed between two spring plates 8a and 8b and always moves the piston rod into a middle position from which the hydraulic cylinder 7 can be retracted (the annular chamber is pressurised with hydraulic fluid via intake line 7c) and extracted (the annular chamber is pressurised via intake line 7b).

(25) FIGS. 7A-7C illustrates an alternative embodiment of the locking head proposed by the invention in different operating positions corresponding to the positions of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C. The left-hand drawing shows the telescope in an unbolted and locked configuration whereas the middle drawing shows the telescope bolted and locked and the right-hand drawing shows the telescope bolted and unlocked.

(26) FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the locking head proposed by the invention. This embodiment essentially corresponds to that illustrated in FIG. 1 but with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder instead of the single-acting hydraulic cylinder shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 7 is also provided with the return device 8, which in this instance is configured as a spring 8 disposed concentrically with the hydraulic cylinder 7. FIGS. 9A-9B and 10 essentially correspond to FIGS. 3A-3B and 2 and illustrate the alternative embodiment with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder.

(27) FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a mobile crane 9, having a telescope comprising at least two telescope sections 10, 11, in particular, a telescopic crane jib 12. A locking head 2 (see FIG. 1, for example) based on one of the embodiments described above co-operates with the telescope. In order to ensure that the individual telescope sections 10, 11 are either locked to another telescope section or coupled with the locking head 2 at all times, the operating member 6 of a preferred embodiment may be configured such that the telescope section lock 14 is not released until the relevant telescope section (one of 10, 11) has been coupled with the locking head 2 and the telescoping device, respectively, and the coupling is not released until the relevant telescope section (one of 10, 11) has been locked to another telescope section (the other of 10, 11). This ensures that every individual telescope section is at all times either locked to the other telescope sections of the telescope or coupled with the telescoping device. Finally, this effectively prevents any undesired independent movement of individual telescope sections.