EP1930286B1 - Tower crane with automated assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a self-erecting tower crane, this invention being more particularly concerned with such a crane with telescopic mast adapted to be raised by insertion of mast extensions.

Self-erecting tower cranes of this type can be classified into two broad categories, depending on how to telescope the mast.

A first category is that of cranes for which the telescoping of the mast is carried out with the crane boom folded vertically along the mast, to allow mounting of the crane in a small space, which may correspond to certain site conditions. A corresponding realization is illustrated, very schematically, on the figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, which shows an automated assembly tower crane, with its base frame 2, its mast 3, and its arrow 4. The mast 3, of telescopic structure, comprises a lower mast element 5 mounted on the chassis of base 2 and an upper mast element 6, slidably mounted in the lower element, and this mast 3 can be raised by insertion of one or more extensions of the mast 7. The arrow 4 consists of successive arrow elements 8, 9 and 10, including two main boom elements 8 and 10 folding vertically along the mast 3, and an intermediate boom element 9, all these boom elements being hinged together, and the whole of the boom 4 being hinged to the top of the mast 3 around a horizontal axis. An arrow retainer 11, with a rear retaining cable 12, connects the boom 4 to the rear part of the base frame 2. The telescoping of the mast 3 is achieved by means of a winch, with a telescoping drum 13 on which is wound a telescoping cable 14 which, by means of a haulage 15, raises the mast 3, that is to say the sliding of the upper mast element 6 relative to the mast element lower 5.

To also be able to mount the crane with its arrow 4 unfolded and in a horizontal position, the arrow elements 8, 9 and 10 being aligned, as shown in FIG. figure 2 , this crane is equipped with a winch which comprises, in addition to the telescoping drum 13, a second coaxial drum said retaining drum 16, whose cable 17 is wound in the opposite direction of the cable 14 and has the role of unwinding the rear retaining cable 12 which extends it. The unwinding of the cables 12 and 17 is supposed to compensate exactly the elongation of the mast 3 during telescoping.

However, inevitable small variations in the length of the cables here would cause an inadvertent raising of the jib 4, and this is why this change in length must itself be compensated. For this purpose, a telescopic tie 18 connects the retaining cable 12 to the base frame 2, this pulling 18 lengthening during telescoping and shortening under the effect of its own weight, during the descent of the element of upper mast 6.

Another solution, to achieve this function of compensation of length, consists in the use of a differential winch, as described in the patent French FR 2183594 (ROCK ).

In a second category of self-erecting cranes, with the same general structure as that described above, the telescoping of the mast is carried out with the boom deployed horizontally. The upper mast member 6 is pushed upwards through the haulage 15, actuated by a telescoping winch, while unwinding the rear retaining cable 12 wound on the drum 16 of a retaining winch, so that the arrow remains substantially horizontal, as described in the patent French FR 2033482 (LOIRECORD ). The telescoping and retaining drums have suitable diameters so that, given the number of different strands of the respective hauls of the telescoping cable and the retaining cable, the mast telescopes while maintaining the horizontality of the arrow. Nevertheless, since the winding of the cables on the drums is carried out in several superimposed layers, there is a difference between the length of cable wound by the telescoping drum and the length of the cable unwound by the drum of a layer change. restraint, which causes slight variations, here uncorrected, of the position of the arrow on either side of the horizontal.

An additional problem in obtaining a tower crane deployed the desired height is to raise the mast by inserting one or more mast extensions, which do not solve the aforementioned documents.

Another crane is described in the document FR-A-1,403,907 .

In view of this state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide a self-erecting tower crane with a telescopic mast, which can be deployed according to one or the other of the two mounting configurations previously mentioned, to know with the boom folded along the mast or with the boom extended horizontally, and in which we can insert mast extensions in both mounting configurations.

To this end, the invention relates to an automated assembly tower crane with a telescopic mast comprising a lower mast element mounted on a base frame and a top mast element to which is articulated an arrow, an arrow retainer with retaining cable connecting the boom to the rear portion of the base frame, the crane being provided for telescoping the mast with the arrow folded along the mast, or with the arrow in substantially horizontal position, a winch with telescoping drum being provided for winding a telescoping cable forming a haul, and a holding drum associated with the telescoping drum being provided for the simultaneous unwinding of the retaining cable, this crane being characterized in that the telescoping drum and the holding drum are mounted and motorized so that they can be rotated simultaneously for telescoping the mast or can be detached from one another for stop of the holding drum and a rotation drive of the single telescoping drum, for insertion of a mast extension at the base of the mast and support of the mast extension by the upper mast element or a previous mast extension.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the telescoping drum and the holding drum are placed on the same control shaft connected to rotating drive means, the holding drum being secured to the control shaft. while the telescoping drum is mounted freely rotatable about this control shaft, means being provided for non-permanently rotating the telescoping drum with the control shaft, and this telescoping drum being adapted, when it is disengaged from the control shaft, to be linked to other rotating drive means.

The rotational drive means, linked to the control shaft, are advantageously constituted by a geared motor with brake, able to immobilize in rotation the control shaft and thus the holding drum, when the telescoping drum is coupled. to the other rotating drive means for supporting a mast extension.

The means which make it possible to link the telescoping drum to the control shaft in a non-permanent manner are feasible as a dog clutch device.

The rotational drive means, to which the telescoping drum is adapted to be connected when it is disengaged from the control shaft, can be constituted by an auxiliary motor and by a transmission directly linking this auxiliary motor to the telescoping drum. . For example, this is a chain transmission, connecting the auxiliary motor to a toothed wheel carried by one of the flanges of the telescoping drum.

Thus, when the two drums are secured to the control shaft, the mast of the crane can be telescoped by winding the telescoping cable and the simultaneous unwinding of the retaining cable, the boom of the crane being folded back along the mast, be deployed horizontally. When the retaining drum is immobilized in rotation, only the telescoping drum being rotated, the boom of the crane is held in position and it becomes possible to use the telescoping cable and its hauling for the support of a mast extension.

Note that the insertion of a mast extension and its support are compatible with the two configurations possible arrow when telescoping the mast. In particular, in the case of a crane boom consisting of a succession of elements articulated together, including at least two main elements and an intermediate element, the insertion of a mast extension is performed using the carriage boom, which is positioned on the intermediate boom element in the case of mounting the crane with the boom folded along the mast, and which is positioned on the first main boom element in the case of a mounting crane with the boom extended horizontally.

• Figure 1 (déjà mentionnée) est une vue de côté très schématique d'une telle grue en cours de montage, avec sa flèche repliée le long du mât ;
• Figure 2 (déjà mentionnée) est une vue de côté similaire à la figure 1, mais montrant la grue en cours de montage avec sa flèche horizontale ;
• Figure 3 représente, très schématiquement, le mécanisme de treuil de la grue selon la présente invention.

The invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing showing, by way of example, an embodiment of this self-assembly tower crane:

• Figure 1 (already mentioned) is a very schematic side view of such a crane being assembled, with its arrow folded along the mast;
• Figure 2 (already mentioned) is a side view similar to the figure 1 but showing the crane being erected with its horizontal arrow;
• Figure 3 represents very schematically the winch mechanism of the crane according to the present invention.

The general structure of the self-erecting tower crane, object of the invention, is indicated by the figures 1 and 2 already mentioned previously. The mounting of this crane, in particular the elevation of its telescopic mast 3, is achievable either with the arrow 4 folded along the mast (configuration shown in FIG. figure 1 ), or with the arrow 4 unfolded and horizontal (configuration shown on the figure 2 ). The mast 3 having been brought into telescoped position at most, that is to say with the mast element 6 maximum extract of the lower mast element 5, this mast 3 can be further enhanced by the insertion of mast extensions 7. For its insertion, each mast extension 7 must first be brought into a planned opening at the base of the lower mast element 5, this operation being carried out using the boom carriage 19, positioned adequately on the arrow 4. Thus, in the case of an assembly made with the folded arrow 4 along the mast 3, the boom carriage 19 is positioned on the intermediate boom element 9 (see figure 1 ); in the case of an assembly carried out with the horizontal arrow 4, the boom carriage 19 is positioned on the first main boom element 8, also designated as an arrow foot. In all cases, the mast telescoping system 3, including in particular the cable 14 and its haulage 15, is used to support the mast extension 7 introduced at the base of the mast 3, and to drive it upwards. to secure it with the upper mast element 6 (or with a similar mast extension previously inserted).

For this purpose, the hoist mechanism of the crane, designated as a whole by the reference 20, is designed according to the principle shown on the figure 3 .

This mechanism 20 comprises a telescoping drum 13 and a retaining drum 16, arranged along the same axis. In a way not represented on the figure 3 , the telescoping cable is wound on the telescoping drum 13, while the retaining cable is wound on the holding drum 16.

The telescoping drum 13 and the holding drum 16 are located on the same control shaft 21, coupled for its rotational drive to a geared motor 22 with brake. The holding drum 16 is permanently secured to the control shaft 21. The telescoping drum 13 is freely mounted to rotate around the control shaft 21, and a clutch device 23 is provided to rotate in a rotatable manner. non-permanent telescoping drum 13 with the control shaft 21.

One of the flanges of the telescoping drum 13 carries a chain sprocket 24. An additional motor 25 is coupled to a chain gear 26, which can be linked in motion by a transmission chain 27 to the toothed gear 24. telescoping drum 13.

For the mounting of the crane and more particularly for the telescoping of the mast 3, in the configuration with arrow 4 folded along the mast 3 as in the configuration with horizontal arrow 4, the telescoping drum 13 is clutched on the control shaft 21, and thus the two drums, telescoping respectively 13 and retaining 16, are driven in rotation simultaneously by the geared motor 22.

To bring a mast extension 7 to the base of the mast 3, placing it in a standby position, the boom 4 is held in position (either folded along the mast 3 or horizontal) by blocking the retaining device. arrow 11 with the brake of the geared motor 22, which immobilizes in rotation the holding drum 16. The telescoping drum 13 is then disengaged from the control shaft 21, by action on the clutch device 23, then this telescoping drum 13 is connected to the motor 25 by means of the two toothed wheels 24 and 26 and the transmission chain 27 passing on these two wheels.

The motor 25 is then actuated to rotate the telescoping drum 13 by rotating it around the control shaft 21 immobilized in rotation. Actuation of the motor 25 and the telescoping drum 13 first causes the telescoping haulage 15 to descend to the base of the mast 3 to take over the mast extension 7 previously brought into the waiting position at this position. in law. Then, by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor 25, thus of the telescoping drum 13, the mast extension 7 is pushed upwards, until it comes against the base of the upper mast element 6. The top of the mast extension 7 is then secured, by broaching, with the base of the upper mast element 6.

Then, the telescoping of the mast 3 is resumed, that is to say that the previously constituted assembly, formed by the upper mast element 6 and the mast extension 7, is moved upwards, using simultaneously the two drums 13 and 16, the telescoping drum 13 having been secured in rotation with the control shaft 21.

If desired, the previously described sequence is repeated for a next mast extension 7, and so on ...

Of course, an inverse sequence makes it possible, during dismantling of the crane, to remove each mast extension 7 and finally to retract the mast 3, for folding the crane, in particular with a view to its transport.

• en modifiant le type de liaison en rotation non permanente réalisée entre le tambour de télescopage 13 et l'arbre de commande 21, le dispositif à crabot 23 étant remplaçable par un axe de liaison amovible ou par tout autre moyen de liaison mécanique pouvant être désaccouplé ;
• en remplaçant la transmission à chaîne 27, entre le moteur 25 et le tambour de télescopage 13, par une transmission à courroie ou par une transmission à engrenages, notamment avec roue dentée et pignon ;
• en appliquant le même mécanisme de treuil à une grue à montage automatisé de toute configuration, quel que soit notamment le nombre d'éléments constitutifs du mât télescopique ou le nombre des éléments de la flèche.

One would not depart from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims:

• by modifying the type of non-permanent rotation connection made between the telescoping drum 13 and the control shaft 21, the clutch device 23 being replaceable by a removable connecting pin or by any other mechanical connection means that can be uncoupled;
• replacing the chain transmission 27, between the motor 25 and the telescoping drum 13, by a belt transmission or a gear transmission, in particular with toothed wheel and pinion;
• applying the same winch mechanism to a self-erecting crane of any configuration, regardless of the number of components of the telescopic mast or the number of boom elements.

Claims (7)

1. Self-erecting tower crane with telescopic tower (3) comprising a lower tower element (5) mounted on a base chassis (2) and an upper tower element (6) to which a jib (4) is articulated, a jib-retaining device (11) with a retaining cable (12) connecting the jib (4) to the rear part of the base chassis (2), the crane being designed for telescoping of the tower (3) either with the jib (4) folded along the tower (3) or with the jib (4) in a substantially horizontal position, a winch (20) with a telescoping drum (13) being provided for winding a telescoping cable (14) that forms a reeving system (15), and retaining drum (16) associated with the telescoping drum (13) being provided for simultaneously paying out retaining cable (12), characterized in that the telescoping drum (13) and the retaining drum (16) are mounted and motorized in such a way that they can either be turned simultaneously, for telescoping the tower (3), or disconnected from one another so that the retaining drum (16) can be kept stationary while just the telescoping drum (13) is turned so that a tower extension (7) can be inserted into the bottom of the tower (3) and the tower extension (7) can be accepted by the upper tower element (6) or by a previous tower extension (7).
2. Self-erecting tower crane according to Claim 1, characterized in that the telescoping drum (13) and the retaining drum (16) are positioned on one and the same control shaft (21) connected to rotational-drive means (22), the retaining drum (16) being secured to the control shaft (21) while the telescoping drum (13) is mounted to rotate freely about this control shaft (21), means (23) being provided for non-permanently connecting the telescoping drum (13) to the control shaft (21) for the purposes of rotation, and this telescoping drum (13) being able, when disconnected from the control shaft (21) , to be connected to other rotational-drive means (25, 26, 27).
3. Self-erecting tower crane according to Claim 2, characterized in that the rotational-drive means connected to the control shaft (21) consist of a geared motor unit (22) with brake, capable of immobilizing the rotation of the control shaft (21) and therefore of the retaining drum (16) when the telescoping drum (13) is coupled to the other rotational-drive means (25, 26, 27) for accepting a tower extension (7).
4. Self-erecting tower crane according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for the non-permanent connection of the telescoping drum (13) to the control shaft (21) for the purposes of rotation are produced in the form of a dog clutch device (23).
5. Self-erecting tower crane according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the rotational-drive means to which the telescoping drum (13) can be connected when disconnected from the control shaft (21) consist of an auxiliary motor (25) and of a transmission (24, 26, 27) connecting this auxiliary motor (25) directly to the telescoping drum (13).
6. Self-erecting tower crane according to Claim 5, characterized in that the said transmission is a chain drive (27) connecting the auxiliary motor (22) to a sprocket wheel (24) carried by one of the cheeks of the telescoping drum (13).
7. Self-erecting tower crane according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the case of a crane jib (4) made up of a succession of elements articulated to one another, including at least two main elements (8, 10) and an intermediate element (9), the tower extension (7) is inserted by using the jib trolley (19), which is positioned on the intermediate jib element (9) if the crane is being erected with the jib (4) folded along the tower (3), and which is positioned on the first main jib element (8) if the crane is being erected with the jib (4) deployed horizontally.

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