Climbing device for a tower crane

Abstract

The present invention relates to a climbing device for a revolving tower crane having a climbing frame movable along, the crane tower for climbing in and/or climbing down tower sections, wherein a guide is provided for the longitudinally movable support of the climbing frame with respect to the crane tower. In accordance with the invention, the guide has resiliently flexibly supported and/or resiliently flexible transverse support elements transversely to the travel direction of the climbing frame.

Claims

1. A climbing device for a revolving tower crane and a crane tower, the crane tower having a crane tower longitudinal axis and a crane tower transverse axis, the climbing device comprising: a climbing frame travelable along the crane tower longitudinal axis for climbing in and/or climbing down tower sections; and a guide for supporting travel of the climbing frame with respect to the crane tower along the crane tower longitudinal axis, wherein the guide comprises resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters travelable along the crane tower transverse axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters comprise guide rollers.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters are preloaded into a guide engagement position toward a tower surface by a spring device.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support element carrier supporting a respective resiliently flexible spring-loaded traverse supporter of the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters, and wherein the support element carrier is supported in a transversely travelable manner by two spring elements arranged at different sides of the transverse support element.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises a flexibility limiter for limiting yield transversely to the crane tower longitudinal axis.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the guide further comprises non-flexibly supported transverse support elements non-flexibly supported transversely to the crane tower longitudinal axis.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are out of engagement and/or are only in engagement in clearance with an associated support surface when the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters are in a non-deflected neutral position.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are set back from a crane tower surface with respect to the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters when the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters are in an outwardly deflected position, wherein an offset away from the crane tower surface is smaller than a maximum deflection path of the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are configured as plain bearings comprising sliding metal plates.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are configured as plain bearings comprising sliding metal plates.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are set back from a crane tower surface with respect to the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters when the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters are in an outwardly deflected position, wherein an offset away from the crane tower surface is smaller than a maximum deflection path of the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are configured as plain bearings comprising sliding metal plates.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein the non-flexibly supported transverse support elements are configured as plain bearings comprising sliding metal plates.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters are at a plurality of sides of the climbing frame and/or wherein the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters have a longitudinal axis parallel with the crane tower longitudinal axis.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverses supporters are in pairs on respectively opposite sides of the climbing frame, and wherein a tower section can be received with an exact fit between the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverses supporters.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the guide comprises guide rollers at a plurality of sides of the climbing frame, wherein the guide rollers are preloaded in mutually opposite directions and/or are resiliently flexibly supported in mutually oppositely disposed directions.

17. A climbing device for a revolving tower crane and a crane tower, the crane tower having a crane tower longitudinal axis and a crane tower transverse axis, the climbing device comprising: tower sections; a climbing frame travelable along the crane tower longitudinal axis for climbing the tower sections; and a guide for supporting travel of the climbing frame with respect to at least one of the tower sections along the crane tower longitudinal axis, wherein the guide comprises resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters travelable along the crane tower transverse axis.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the resiliently flexible spring-loaded transverse supporters elements comprise guide rollers.

19. A climbing device for a revolving tower crane and a crane tower, the crane tower having a crane tower longitudinal axis and a crane tower transverse axis, the climbing device comprising: tower sections; a climbing frame travelable along the crane tower longitudinal axis for climbing the tower sections; and guide rollers at a plurality of sides of the climbing frame, wherein the guide rollers apply forces in mutually opposite directions, wherein the guide rollers are resiliently flexibly supported in mutually oppositely disposed directions, wherein the guide rollers are resiliently flexibly biased to maintain contact with a tower section during longitudinal travel of the climbing frame when the climbing frame travels from a first longitudinal climbing position on the tower section to a second longitudinal climbing position on the tower section.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising spring elements, wherein the spring elements are configured to force load the guide rollers against a surface of at least one tower section.

21. A climbing device for a revolving tower crane and a crane tower, the crane tower having a crane tower longitudinal axis and a crane tower transverse axis, the climbing device comprising: a climbing frame travelable along the crane tower longitudinal axis; and a climbing guide travelable along the crane tower transverse axis, wherein the climbing guide comprises: a resiliently flexible transverse supporter having a non-deflected neutral position and a deflected position, and a non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter having a first position and a second position, wherein when the non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter is in the first position, there is a space between the crane tower and the non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter, wherein when the non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter is in the second position, the non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter contacts the crane tower, wherein when the resiliently flexible transverse supporter is in the non-deflected neutral position, the non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter is in the first position, and wherein when the resiliently flexible transverse supporter is in the deflected position, the non-flexible rigid sliding transverse supporter is in the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to a preferred embodiment and to associated drawings. There are shown in the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1: a perspective part view of a climbing device for a revolving tower crane which shows the climbing frame at the crane tower and a tower section to be inserted therewith;

(3) FIG. 2: a schematic representation of the longitudinally displaceable guide and its transverse support elements for the longitudinally displaceable support of the climbing frame with respect to the crane tower;

(4) FIG. 3: a detailed, enlarged, partly sectional representation of a resiliently flexibly supported transverse section element and a non-flexibly supported transverse section element of the longitudinally displaceable guide of the climbing frame with respect to the crane tower from the preceding Figures;

(5) FIG. 4: a perspective representation of the displaceable support of the guide roller of FIG. 3 which shows the reception of the axle of rotation of the guide roller in an elongate hole; and

(6) FIG. 5: a partly exposed, perspective representation of the spring suspension of the guide roller of FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, a crane tower 1 of a revolving tower crane can be composed in a manner known per se of a plurality of tower sections 2 which can each be formed as frame carriers and which can be placed onto one another in the region of their corner bars and which can be latched to one another, for example bolted to one another. An upper crane part 3, which is only shown in detail and not completely, can be provided in a manner known per se at the upper end of the crane tower 1 and can, for example be rotatable with respect to the crane tower 1 via a revolving crane support when the crane is a top-slewer and can comprise a boom 4 via which a hoisting rope can run off in a manner known per se, for example over a trolley.

(8) To be able to increase or extend the crane tower further and further with a structure growing upward, a climbing device 5 is provided by means of which the upper crane part 3 can be raised a little and further tower sections 2 can be inserted or placed onto the previously topmost tower section in order then again to be able to be place the upper crane part 3 onto the just inserted topmost tower section.

(9) Said climbing device 5 for this purpose comprises a climbing frame 6 which is supported at the crane tower 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof and in a travelable or displaceable manner so that the climbing frame 6 can be displaced up and down at the crane tower 1. Said climbing frame 6 can likewise be formed as a system of bars, with, however, other structures also being able to be used such as plate metal section frames, shell constructions and the like. Said climbing frame 6 is in this respect advantageously formed overallin rough termsas sleeve shaped and with its inner periphery adapted contour-wise and dimension-wise to the outer periphery of the crane tower 1 so that the climbing frame 6 can be pushed over the crane tower 1 in the manner of a cuff or sleeve and a small gap remains between the outer contour of the crane tower 1 and the inner contour of the climbing frame 6 in which gap guide elements still to be explained are provided for guiding the climbing frame 6 at the crane tower 1.

(10) The traveling of the climbing frame 6 along the crane tower 1 can be effected in different manners, for example by means of a support shoe which can be telescoped in and out and at which a power lift such as a hydraulic cylinder cart engage to be able to press the climbing frame 6 upwardly or to be able to let it down with respect to the crane tower 1.

(11) As FIG. 1 indicates, the climbing frame 6 can comprise an insertion opening at one side through which an additional tower section 2 can be inserted, as arrow 7 indicates, or can also be pushed out when the crane tower 1 is to be dismantled or lowered.

(12) As FIG. 2 shows, the climbing frame 6 can be supported by a guide 8 in a longitudinally travelable manner at the crane tower 1 so that the climbing frame 6 can be traveled up and down in parallel with the tower axis 9, but cannot tilt with respect to the crane tower 1.

(13) The guide 8 for this purpose comprises a plurality of transverse support elements 10 which engage at different sides of the crane tower 1, which support transverse forces of the climbing frame 6 at the crane tower 1 and which prevent transverse movements of said climbing frame 6 and/or tilt movements of the climbing frame 6 with respect to the crane tower 1. The guide 8 forms a longitudinal guide which substantially only allows a uniaxial movement of the climbing frame 6, namely a displacement or a travel in the longitudinal direction in accordance with the arrow 11.

(14) Transverse support elements 10 arranged in pairs at oppositely disposed sides can in particular be provided at the climbing frame 6 and the crane tower 1 is received with an exact fit between them.

(15) Said transverse support elements 10 can be supported on the longitudinal ties or corner bars of the tower sections 2, cf. FIG. 2.

(16) As FIGS. 3 and 4 show, said transverse support elements 10 can comprise two different types of support elements, namely, on the one hand, resiliently flexibly supported guide rollers 10a and, on the other hand, non-flexible, substantially rigid sliding metal plates 10b. Said guide rollers 10a and the sliding metal plates 10b can be arranged in respective pairs in direct proximity or in the direct vicinity of one another, for example such that a respective rigid sliding metal plate 10b is arranged next to a flexibly supported guide roller 10a, cf. FIG. 3, to locally intercept or limit the flexibility of the guide roller 10.

(17) As FIG. 2 shows and as already explained above, such mutually associated guide rollers 10a and sliding metal plates 10b can each be arranged at different sides of the climbing frame 6 and can be provided in a plurality of groups axially spaced apart from one another so that the crane tower 1 is engaged around from a plurality of sides, in particular sides respectively disposed opposite one another in pairs, in particular from all sides, or so that the climbing frame 6 is supported with tilt stability with respect to the crane tower 1.

(18) As FIGS. 3-5 show, said guide rollers 10a are resiliently flexibly supported transversely to the direction of travel 11 of the climbing frame 6 so that the guide rollers 10a can yield outwardly transversely to the peripheral side and can move back again automatically under a preload force or spring force.

(19) The respective guide roller 10a can for the purpose be displaceably guided with its axle of rotation 14 in a guide slit 12 of preferably elongate hole form of a guide frame part 13 so that the guide roller 10a can be moved toward the respective tower section 2 and can be pressed away from it, and indeed advantageously substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective longitudinal tie of the tower section 2.

(20) In order to preload the guide roller 10a or to apply a spring force to it which presses the guide roller 10a against the tower section 2, said axle of rotation 14 of the respective guide roller 10a is fastened to a support element carrier 15 which is movable with respect to the aforesaid guide frame part 13 and which is supported by a spring device 16. Said spring device 16 can advantageously comprise at least two spring elements 17 which can be arranged at both sides of the guide roller 10a or of its axle of rotation 14 and can, on the hand, be supported at the guide frame part 13 and, on the other hand, at the support element carrier 15 so that the support element carrier 15, and thus the guide roller 10a, is loaded against the tower section 2.

(21) The travel capability of the guide roller 10a is limited transversely to the longitudinal tower axis 9 or transversely to the direction of travel 11 by the reception of the axle of rotation 14 in the guide slit 12 of elongate hole form, with defined end positions advantageously also being provided at the end of the possible travel path. On the one hand, the spring device 16 presses the axle of rotation 14 against the one end of the guide slit 12 of elongate hole form. If the spring forces are overcome, the guide roller 10a can escape or deflect until the end position of the spring device 10 and/or the oppositely disposed end of the guide slit 12 of elongate hole form is reached.

(22) In addition to the resiliently flexibly supported guide rollers 10a, the guide 8 comprises the aforesaid sliding metal plates 10b which can be substantially non-flexible, in particular rigid and which can be arranged transversely to the direction of travel 11.

(23) The arrangement of the non-flexible sliding metal plates 10b can in this respect be made such that said sliding metal plates 10b are spaced apart from or out of engagement with the support surfaces at the crane tower 1, in particular the longitudinal tie surfaces or corner bar surfaces, with here only a slight spacing advantageously being provided which is smaller than the maximum possible deflection path of the guide rollers 10a. A slight clearance fit between the sliding metal plates 10b and the tower surface can in particular be provided, at least as long as the guide rollers 10a are in a neutral position or at least not in their completely deflected position, so that the sliding metal plates 10b can slide along the tower sections 12 free of resistance and wear. As FIG. 3 shows, the sliding metal plates 10b easily have air with respect to the tower surface. On the other hand, the sliding metal plates 10b stabilize the climbing frame 6 with respect to the crane tower 1 when the guide rollers 10a deflect, that is the sliding metal plates 10b then come into contact, with the surface of the crane tower and additionally support the climbing frame 6 and/or prevent too far a deflection of the guide rollers 10a.

(24) The tilting torque applied at the climbing frame 6 can be visually recognized by said deflected guide rollers 10a and a jolt-free climbing process can be carried out by corresponding compensation measures. An unwanted slip-stick effect can be prevented.

(25) Furthermore, the wear of the contact surfaces of the guide 8 of the climbing flame 6 at the crane tower 1 is reduced to a minimum, whereby long service lives of the tower sections 2 and the sliding metal plates 10b can be achieved. Said sliding metal plates 10b only serve as a metal contact plate or only as an actually engaging sliding metal plate in an emergency.

(26) Rust formation can also be significantly reduced by the greatly reduced wear at the contact surfaces.