SMART HOOK BLOCK

Abstract

A crane hook block includes a frame, at least one pulley rotatably connected to the frame, a load hook connected to the frame, at least one sensor arranged on the crane hook block and designed to detect at least one ambient parameter and/or at least one status parameter of the crane hook block, and an interface connected to the at least one sensor and designed to transmit the data received from the at least one sensor.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A crane hook block, comprising: a frame; at least one pulley rotatably connected to the frame; a load hook connected to the frame; at least one sensor arranged on the crane hook block and configured to detect at least one ambient parameter and/or at least one status parameter of the crane hook block; and an interface connected to the at least one sensor and configured to transmit the data received from the at least one sensor.

12. The crane hook block according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the following parameters is detected as an ambient parameter: a camera image of at least one region surrounding the crane hook block; the distance between the crane hook block and objects.

13. The crane hook block according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the following parameters is detected as a status parameter: a camera image of at least some of the crane hook block; the weight of the load attached to the load hook; the spatial position of the crane hook block; the spatial orientation of the crane hook block; the rotational speed of at least one pulley.

14. The crane hook block according to claim 11, comprising at least one of the following sensors: an optical camera for detecting light in the visible and/or infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is reflected and/or emitted by the crane hook block or parts of it or by objects in the vicinity of the crane hook block; a RADAR sensor for detecting the distance between the crane hook block and objects in the vicinity of the crane hook block (1); a LIDAR sensor for detecting the distance between the crane hook block and objects in the vicinity of the crane hook block; a spatial position sensor or GPS sensor for detecting the spatial position and/or orientation of the crane hook block; an inclination sensor for detecting the spatial orientation of the crane hook block or parts of it; a pressure sensor and/or force sensor for detecting the mechanical load on the crane hook block or parts of it; a rotational speed sensor for detecting the rotational speed of at least one of the pulleys; an accelerometer for detecting the acceleration of the crane hook block or parts of it.

15. The crane hook block according to claim 11, further comprising a lighting unit for illuminating the detection region of a camera which captures the camera image.

16. The crane hook block according to claim 11, further comprising a generator for supplying electrical power to the sensors, wherein the generator is driven by the at least one pulley.

17. The crane hook block according to claim 11, further comprising an energy storage for supplying electrical power to the sensors.

18. The crane hook block according to claim 11, comprising an upper portion, which comprises the at least one pulley, and a lower portion which is detachably connected to the upper portion and comprises the load hook, wherein most of the sensors are arranged on or in the lower portion.

19. A crane controller for a crane, comprising an interface configured to be connected to the interface of the crane hook block according to claim 11, wherein the crane controller is configured to determine at least one status variable of the crane on the basis of a parameter detected by the at least one sensor.

20. A crane comprising: a crane hook block comprising: a frame; at least one pulley rotatably connected to the frame; a load hook connected to the frame; at least one sensor arranged on the crane hook block and configured to detect at least one ambient parameter and/or at least one status parameter of the crane hook block; and an interface connected to the at least one sensor and configured to transmit the data received from the at least one sensor; and a crane controller comprising an interface configured to be connected to the interface of the crane hook block, wherein the crane controller is configured to determine at least one status variable of the crane on the basis of a parameter detected by the at least one sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below by referring to the enclosed figures. The invention can comprise any of the features described here, individually and in any expedient combination. There is shown:

[0046] FIG. 1 a single-part crane hook block in accordance with the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 2 a two-part crane hook block in accordance with the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 3 a mobile crane comprising the crane hook block in accordance with the invention and a corresponding crane controller.

DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a single-part crane hook block 1 in which both the total of six pulleys 3 and the single load hook 4 are connected to a common frame 2 of the crane hook block 1. To this extent, the crane hook block in accordance with the invention does not differ from conventional crane hook blocks.

[0050] In order to enable particular ambient parameters and status parameters of the crane hook block to be measured directly, the crane hook block comprises multiple sensors 5 to 10. In order to measure the weight of the load attached to the load hook 4, the hook crossbar comprises a load sensor 9 in the form of strain gauges. In order to allow the operating personnel an improved view of the load attached to the crane hook 4, the frame 2 comprises a camera 5 featuring an integrated lighting device 13 in the form of a spotlight. The rotational speed of the pulleys 3 is detected by a corresponding rotational speed sensor 10. In order to preclude any possible collisions with the pulley head 11 (see FIG. 3) of the crane boom, the crane hook block 1 comprises a RADAR sensor 6 in its upper region, for detecting distances. Alternatively, a LI DAR sensor can also be used for this purpose. In order to detect the spatial position of the crane hook block 1, a spatial position sensor in the form of a GPS sensor 7 is provided. In addition, an inclination sensor 8 which is also situated on the crane hook block 1 detects the spatial orientation of the crane hook block 1 and can identify any possible inclined positions of the crane hook block 1.

[0051] All of the sensors 5 to 10 are connected to an interface 12 which receives the measurement data ascertained by the sensors 5 to 10 and transmits them to a corresponding interface 16 of a crane controller 17 (see FIG. 3) via a radio connection.

[0052] Electrical power is supplied to the entire measurement sensor system, including the sensors 5 to 10, by a rechargeable battery 15 which is in turn charged by a generator 14. The generator 14 is connected to the pulleys 3 via a shaft and thus generates electrical power when the crane hook block 1 is lifted or lowered.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows another, two-part embodiment of the crane hook block in accordance with the invention which differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 substantially only in that the frame 2 comprises an upper part 2A comprising the pulleys 3 and a lower part 2B comprising a double hook 4. The lower part 2B can be detachably connected to the upper part 2A using four bolt connections which are not indicated in any greater detail. FIG. 2 also shows that the entire measurement sensor system, including the sensors 5 to 10, the interface 12 and the energy storage 15, is arranged in the lower part 2B of the crane hook block 1. The rotational speed as well as the angular position of the individual pulleys 3 is detected by an optical camera 5 and a computer-assisted image evaluator which identifies optical markings on the pulleys 3 in the images produced by the camera 5, from which the rotational speed and angular position of the pulleys 3 is deduced. This feature could alternatively be realized by a ring of sensors on at least one pulley 3 and a corresponding Hall sensor in the lower part 2B of the hook block.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a mobile crane 15 comprising the hook block 1 in accordance with the invention and a corresponding crane controller 17 together with an interface 16 comprising the feature already discussed further above for determining status variables of the crane 15 on the basis of the parameters detected by the sensors 5 to 10.