Boom extension and contraction mechanism for crane apparatus

Abstract

A boom extension and contraction mechanism for a crane apparatus includes: a flow passage switching mechanism that switches a flow passage of the hydraulic oil between the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder side and the boom member connection switching cylinder side; a hose reel configured to reel out a hydraulic hose as a telescopic cylinder is extending, and to reel off the hydraulic hose as the telescopic cylinder is contracting; a cable used to supply power and transmit a signal between a swivel base and a boom; and a cord reel configured to reel out the cable as the telescopic cylinder is extending and to reel off the cable as the telescopic cylinder is contracting. The code reel and the hose reel are arranged on the base in a direction in which the boom extends and contracts.

Claims

1. A boom extension and contraction mechanism for a crane apparatus comprising: a boom including a plurality of boom members, the boom extending and contracting by shifting next boom members in front of respective ones with respect to the boom members other than a top boom member; a base configured to support a base end of a bottom boom member; a telescopic cylinder including a cylinder rod and a cylinder tube, one of the cylinder rod and the cylinder tube being connected to the bottom boom member to extend and contract the boom; a cylinder-to-boom connection mechanism configured to be able to connect and disconnect between the other of the cylinder rod and the cylinder tube and the boom members other than the bottom boom member; a boom member connection mechanism configured to be able to connect between the boom members next to one another and release the boom members from being connected to one another; a cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder configured to allow the cylinder-to-boom connection mechanism to perform one of a connecting operation and a disconnecting operation between the telescopic cylinder and a boom member by supplying hydraulic oil, and to allow the cylinder-to-boom connection mechanism to perform the other of the connecting operation and the disconnecting operation between the telescopic cylinder and the boom member by stopping supplying the hydraulic oil; a boom member connection switching cylinder configured to allow the boom member connection mechanism to perform one of a connecting operation and a disconnecting operation between the boom members next to one another by supplying the hydraulic oil, and to allow the boom member connection mechanism to perform the other of the connecting operation and the disconnecting operation between the boom members next to one another by stopping supplying the hydraulic oil; only one hydraulic hose configured to supply the hydraulic oil from the base side to the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder and the boom member connection switching cylinder; a flow passage switching mechanism configured to switch a flow passage of the hydraulic oil supplied via the hydraulic hose between the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder side and the boom member connection switching cylinder side; a hose reel configured to reel out the hydraulic hose as the telescopic cylinder is extending, and to reel off the hydraulic hose as the telescopic cylinder is contracting, the hose reel having a dimension in a direction of a rotating axis that allows the hydraulic hose to be wound around the hose reel in the direction of the rotating axis; a cable used to supply power from the base side to equipment provided in the other of the cylinder rod and the cylinder tube of the telescopic cylinder, and to transmit a signal from the equipment to the base side; and a cord reel configured to reel out the cable as the telescopic cylinder is extending and to reel off the cable as the telescopic cylinder is contracting, the cord reel having a dimension in the direction of the rotating axis that allows the cable to be wound around the cord reel in the direction of the rotating axis, wherein the hose reel and the cord reel are arranged on the base in a direction in which the boom extends and contracts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view showing a mobile crane according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a boom and a boom extension and contraction mechanism;

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the boom extension and contraction mechanism;

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view showing a hose reel and a cord reel;

(5) FIG. 5 is a top view showing the arrangement of the hose reel and the cord reel;

(6) FIG. 6 is a back view showing the arrangement of the hose reel and the cord reel;

(7) FIG. 7 is a drawing explaining the fleet angle; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the boom extending and contracting.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(9) FIGS. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. With the present embodiment, a mobile crane 1 will be described as a crane apparatus having a boom extension and contraction mechanism according to the present invention.

(10) As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile crane 1 includes a vehicle 10 that runs on the ground, and a crane apparatus 20 as an operation part.

(11) The vehicle 10 has wheels 11 and runs by an engine (not shown) as a power source. In addition, outriggers 12 are provided on the right and left sides of the front part of the vehicle 10 and also on the right and left sides of the rear part of the vehicle 10 to prevent the vehicle 10 from overturning and support the vehicle 10 stably when the crane is working. Each outrigger 12 is movable outward in the width direction and also extendable downward by a hydraulic jack cylinder (not shown). The bottom ends of the outriggers 12 contact the ground to support the vehicle 10 on the ground stably.

(12) The crane apparatus 20 includes a swivel base 21 that is pivotably provided in the center part of the vehicle 10 in the longitudinal direction and is configured to be able to swivel on a horizontal plane; a boom 22 provided to be able to rise and down with respect to the swivel base 21 and to be able to extend and contract; and a cabin 23 provided in the front part of the swivel base 21 to run the vehicle 10 and operate the crane apparatus 20 to work.

(13) The swivel base 21 is configured to be able to swivel with respect to the vehicle 10 by means of a ball bearing or roller bearing swivel support. The swivel base 21 is driven by a hydraulic swivel motor (not shown).

(14) The boom 22 is constituted by a plurality of boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f and formed as a telescopic boom in such a manner that the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e can accommodate the respective next boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f in front of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e. The boom 22 according to the preset embodiment is constituted by six boom members, the bottom boom member 22a, the second boom member 22b, the third boom member 22c, the fourth boom member 22d, the fifth boom member 22e, and the top boom member 22f, which are arranged in the order from the base end of the boom 22.

(15) The base end of the bottom boom member 22a is swingably connected to a bracket 21a of the swivel base 21. A hydraulic luffing cylinder 22g is connected between the bottom boom member 22a and the bracket 21a, and extends and contracts to allow the boom 22 to rise and down.

(16) A boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 allows the boom 22 to extend and contract.

(17) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the boom extension and contraction mechanism includes: a telescopic cylinder 31 that shifts the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f other than the bottom boom member 22a; a cylinder-to-boom connection mechanism that removably connects between the telescopic cylinder 31 and the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f other than the bottom boom member 22a; a plurality of boom member connection mechanism 33 that removably connect between the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and, 22e and respective next ones, the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f in front of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e; and a boom member disconnection mechanism 34 that disconnects between the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e and respective next ones, the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f in front of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e.

(18) As shown in FIG. 2, the telescopic cylinder 31 includes a cylinder tube 31a and a cylinder rod 31b. The front end of the cylinder rod 31b is connected to the base end of the bottom boom member 22a in the bottom boom member 22a. By supplying the hydraulic oil discharged from a hydraulic pump 40, the cylinder tube 31a moves with respect to the cylinder rod 31b in the direction in which the boom 22 extends and contracts.

(19) As shown in FIG. 3, the cylinder-to-boom connection mechanism 32 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder tube 31a the telescopic cylinder 31. The cylinder-to-boom connection mechanism 32 includes a pair of cylinder pins 32a that can engage the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f other than the bottom boom member 22a; and a cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b that releases the pair of cylinder pins 32a from engaging the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f other than the bottom boom member 22a.

(20) As shown in FIG. 2, a cylinder pin engagement part 32c formed in a concave shape is provided in the base end side of each of the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f other than the bottom boom member 22a. The cylinder pin 32a can engage each of the cylinder pin engagement part 32c.

(21) The pair of cylinder pins 32a can move in the radial direction of the cylinder tube 31a. When being moved outward in the radial direction, the pair of cylinder pins 32a engages the cylinder pin engagement parts 32c. Meanwhile, when being moved inward in the radial direction, the pair of cylinder pins 32 is released from engaging the cylinder pin engagement parts 32c.

(22) The cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b is a spring return type of single acting cylinder that biases the cylinder pins 32a in the direction in which the cylinder pins 32a engage the cylinder pin engagement parts 32c. BY supplying the hydraulic oil, the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b releases the cylinder pins 32a from engaging with the cylinder engagement parts 32c.

(23) As shown in FIG. 2, each of the boom member connection mechanisms 33 includes: a boom member connection pin 33a provided in each of the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f in the front end side of the boom 22; and a pin engagement hole 22b provided in each of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e in the base end side of the boom 22, which can engage the boom member connection pin 33a.

(24) As shown in FIG. 2, the boom member connection pin 33a is biased in the direction in which the front end of the boom member connection pin 33a engages the pin engagement hole 33b of the next boom member 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e in the base end side. A lever engagement part 33c to engage a disconnection lever 33c of the boom member disconnection mechanism 34 described later is provided on the boom member connection pin 33a.

(25) As shown in FIG. 2, the pin engagement holes 33b are provided for the base end sides and front end sides of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e. The pin engagement holes 33b are provided in positions to meet the protrusion length of the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, and 22f from the respective next boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22f in front of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e, in addition to the base end sides and front end side of the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e.

(26) As shown in FIG. 3, the boom member disconnection mechanism 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder tube 31a of the telescopic cylinder 31, and has a disconnection lever 34a that can engage the lever engagement part 33c for any boom member connection pin 33a, and a boom member connection switching cylinder 34b that activates the disconnection lever 34a.

(27) The disconnection lever 34a can engage the lever engagement part 33c of the boom member connection pin 33a at the position at which the pair of cylinder pins 32a engages the cylinder pin engagement parts 32c. In addition, by driving the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b, the disconnection lever 34a releases the boom member connection pins 33a from connecting between the boom members.

(28) The boom member connection switching cylinder 34b is a spring return type of single acting cylinder. With the supply of the hydraulic oil, the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b activates the disconnection lever 34a in the direction in which the boom member connection pins 33a are released from connecting between the boom members.

(29) The boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 further includes a hydraulic oil supply circuit 35 for supplying the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b with the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump 40.

(30) As shown in FIG. 3, the hydraulic oil supply circuit 35 includes a hydraulic hose 35a for flowing the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump 40 into the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b; and a flow passage switching valve 35b for switching the flow passage of the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic hose 35a between the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b.

(31) The hydraulic hose 35a is made of a flexible material and has a length that can supply the hydraulic oil to the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32h and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b while the telescopic cylinder 31 is maximally extended. The hydraulic hose 35a wound around the hose reel 35c is reeled out from the hose reel 35c as the telescopic cylinder 31 is extending, and is reeled off on the hose reel 35c as the telescopic cylinder 31 is contracting.

(32) As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the hose reel 35c is mounted on the bracket 21a and located below the base end of the bottom boom member 22a. The hose reel 35c has a dimension in the direction of the rotating axis that allows the hydraulic hose 35a to be wound around the hose reel 35c in a single layer in the direction of the rotating axis and has a dimension in the radial direction that allows the hydraulic hose 35a to be wound around the hose reel 35c in layers outward in the radial direction. The hydraulic hose 35a wound around the hose reel 35c is guided by a first sheave 35d and extends to the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b side. The first sheave 35d is rotatably provided on the base end of the bottom boom member 22a located above the hose reel 35c.

(33) As shown in FIG. 3, the boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 further includes a plurality of proximity switches 36 that detect which of the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, and 22f is connected to the cylinder pins 32a, in order to detect the drive condition of the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b. These proximity switches 36 and a solenoid that drives the flow passage switching valve 35b are connected to a controller provided in, for example, the vehicle 10 via the cable 37. The cable 37 is constituted by a plurality of flexible signal lines and has a length that can reach the proximity switches 36 and the flow passage switching valve 35b while telescopic cylinder 31 is maximally extended. The cable 37 wound around the cord reel 37a is reeled out from the cord reel 37a as the telescopic cylinder 31 is extending, and is reeled off on the cord reel 37a as the telescopic cylinder 31 is contracting.

(34) As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cord reel 37a is mounted on the bracket 21a and located below the base end of the bottom boom member 22a and in front of the hose reel 35c. The cord reel 37a has a dimension in the direction of the rotating axis that allows the cable 37 to be wound around the cord reel 37a in a single layer in the direction of the rotating axis. The cable 37 wound around the cord reel 37a is guided by a roller guide 37b and a second sheave 37c and extends to the proximity switches 36 and the flow channel switching valve 35b side. The roller guide 37b is rotatably provided on the bracket 21a at a position behind and obliquely above the cord reel 37a. The second sheave 37c is rotatably provided on the base end of the bottom boom member 22a located above the roller guide 37b on the same axis as the first sheave 35d.

(35) Here, the relationship between the hose reel 35c and the first sheave 35d, and the relationship between the cord reel 37a and the second sheave 37c have to satisfy so-called “fleet angle”.

(36) As shown in FIG. 7, the fleet angle means angle θ made by line A connecting the center of the sheave in the direction of the rotating axis and the center of the reel in the direction of the rotating axis and line B connecting the center of the sheave in the direction of the rotating axis and the inner surface of a flange in the direction of the rotating axis of the reel. With the present embodiment, the relationship between the positions of the hose reel 35c and the first sheave 35d, the relationship between the positions of the cord reel 37a and the second sheave 37c, and the dimensions of the hose reel 35c and the cord reel 37a in the direction of the rotating axis are determined such that the fleet angle is within two degrees.

(37) With the boom extension and contraction mechanism for a crane apparatus having the above-described configuration, in order to extend the boom 22, the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f accommodated in the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e in back of them, respectively, are shifted in the order from the boom member 22f that is located in the front end side. Meanwhile, in order to contract the boom 22, the boom members 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f protruding from the boom members 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d and 22e in back of them, respectively, are shifted in the order from the boom member that is located in the base end side.

(38) In order to extend and contract the boom 22, the boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 first supplies the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b with the hydraulic oil to release the cylinder pins 32a from engaging the boom member and then drive the telescopic cylinder 31 (see FIG. 8A). Next, the boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 shifts the cylinder pins 32a to the position at which the cylinder pins 32a face the cylinder pin engagement parts 32c of the boom member intended to be shifted by driving the telescopic cylinder 31, and stops supplying the hydraulic oil to the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b to release the cylinder pins 32a from disconnecting from the boom member. As a result, the cylinder pins 32a engage the cylinder pin engagement part 32c for the boom member intended to be shifted (see FIG. 8B). After the cylinder pins 32a have engaged the cylinder pin engagement parts 32c, the boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 disconnects between the boom member to be shifted and the next boom member in the base end side by supplying the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b with the hydraulic oil. In this state, the boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 drives the telescopic cylinder 31 to allow the boom 22 to extend and contract (see FIG. 8C). After having shifted the intended boom member to a predetermined position, the boom extension and contraction mechanism 30 stop supplying the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b with the hydraulic oil, and connect the shifted boom member to the next boom member in the base end side.

(39) As described above, the boom extension and contraction mechanism for a crane apparatus according to the present embodiment includes: a hydraulic hose 35a configured to supply hydraulic oil from the swivel base side 21 to the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b; a flow passage switching valve 35b configured to switch the flow passage of the hydraulic oil supplied via the hydraulic hose 35a between the cylinder-to-boom connection switching cylinder 32b side and the boom member connection switching cylinder 34b side; a hose reel 35c configured to reel out the hydraulic hose 35a as the telescopic cylinder 31 is extending, and reel off the hydraulic hose 35a as telescopic cylinder 31 is contracting; a cable 37 used to supply power from the swivel base 21 side to the solenoid for driving the flow passage switching valve 35b and to transmit signals from the proximity switches 36 to the swivel base 21 side; and a cord reel 37a configured to reel off the cable 37 as the telescopic cylinder 31 is extending and to reel off the cable 37 as the telescopic cylinder 31 is contracting. The hose reel 35c and the cord reel 37a are arranged on the swivel base 21 in the direction in which the boom 2 extends and contracts. By this means, it is possible to increase the dimension of the hose reel 35c in the direction of the rotating axis while reducing the dimension of the hose reel 35c in the radial direction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the length over which the hose reel 35c protrude from the back of the swivel base 21, and consequently to reduce the angle of traverse in the back of the swivel base 21 with a simple structure. Moreover, it is possible to place the hydraulic hose 35a and the cable 37 near one another and extend them to the cylinder tube 31a side, and therefore to reduce the size of the boom 22 in the width direction.

(40) Here, with the present embodiment, a configuration has been described where the boom extension and contraction mechanism according to the present invention is applied to a mobile crane. However, it is by no means limiting, but the boom extension and contraction mechanism according to the present invention is applicable to a fixed crane apparatus.