EP4488221A1 - Crane with a dermal ballast - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a crane comprising an undercarriage, an upper carriage rotatably mounted on the undercarriage, a boom luffingly connected to the upper carriage, a derrick boom articulated to the upper carriage, via which the boom is guyed, a guide connected to the upper carriage and a derrick ballast designed in particular as a suspended ballast. The derrick ballast comprises at least two ballast elements that can be stacked on top of one another and a crossbeam, which is connected to the derrick boom via a ballast guy and to the upper carriage via the guide. According to the invention, the crossbeam can be connected to a stack of ballast elements via at least one holding element. The holding element comprises first connecting means for detachably connecting the holding element to second connecting means of the ballast elements of the stack and is designed such that the holding element can be connected to a partial stack of ballast elements of the stack by moving the holding element and/or the crossbeam relative to the uncoupled stack. The invention further relates to a derrick ballast for such a crane.

Description

The present invention relates to a crane according to the preamble of claim 1 and a derrick ballast for such a crane.

Cranes of this type are also known as derrick cranes and typically have a crawler chassis. Due to the additional derrick ballast, these cranes are designed to lift and move particularly heavy loads. In these cranes, the main boom (hereinafter referred to as "boom" - this is typically a lattice boom) and the derrick boom are connected to one another via a length-adjustable luffing cable. The derrick boom is typically connected to the adjustable A-frame of the upper carriage via a derrick guy. By adjusting the A-frame, the inclination of the derrick boom relative to the upper carriage can be adjusted for assembling and dismantling the derrick. During crane operation, the angle of the derrick boom is usually unchanged. The luffing movement of the main boom is achieved by adjusting the luffing cable between the boom and the derrick boom.

The moment that the boom brings into the boom system with the load it carries must therefore be absorbed by the derrick boom. In addition, the entire "crane" system must remain stable. This means that the overall center of gravity must be within the tipping edges. When lifting large loads This is not possible with superstructure ballast alone. For this reason, the derrick ballast is required as additional ballast. This is connected to the free end of the derrick boom via a ballast guy wire that can be adjusted in length. The length of the ballast guy wire can be changed using hydraulic traction cylinders, for example.

Derrick ballasts in the form of a suspended ballast or a ballast cart that can be moved on the ground with ballast elements stacked on it are known from the state of the art. A suspended ballast can generally have two operating modes: it can be placed on the ground or suspended on the variable-length ballast guy. These two states are usually dependent on the load moment to be absorbed.

The horizontal distance between the rotation axis of the superstructure or superstructure rotation axis and the center of gravity of the derrick ballast is called the ballast radius. The ballast radius can be adjusted with the suspended ballast either via the inclination of the derrick boom or via a guide between the rear of the superstructure and the suspended ballast.

A high level of ballasting is required for erecting long boom equipment. Once erected, the crane generally requires less ballasting for the projected loads. The disadvantage of a suspended ballast is that the crane or the superstructure can only be turned, moved or the suspended ballast moved when the derrick ballast is lifted off the ground. However, this state can only be achieved if the system is in balance with a certain load on the hook. The larger or heavier the suspended ballast, the greater the minimum load on the hook must be. Depending on the configuration, this results in certain minimum loads on the hook in order to prevent the suspended ballast from being forced to set down. As long as the required minimum load on the hook is greater than the hook weight including the lifting gear, the suspended ballast must be set down when the load is taken off the hook. Turning the crane, moving or moving the suspended ballast is then not possible. no longer possible. This circumstance can severely limit or complicate the planning of a hub.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a solution to be able to adapt such a derrick ballast simply, quickly and flexibly to the lifting task to be carried out. In particular, it should be possible to change the weight of the derrick ballast simply, quickly and flexibly.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a crane having the features of claim 1 and by a derrick ballast having the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description.

Accordingly, a crane is proposed which comprises an undercarriage, an upper carriage mounted so as to rotate on the undercarriage, a boom connected to the upper carriage in a luffing manner, a derrick boom connected to the upper carriage in an articulated manner, a guide connected to the upper carriage and a derrick ballast. The undercarriage is in particular movable and can have a crawler chassis. The boom is guyed via the derrick boom, preferably via a length-adjustable luffing cable as described at the beginning. The derrick boom is preferably connected to the adjustable A-frame of the upper carriage via a derrick guying. The derrick boom can also be connected via an A-frame fixedly connected to the upper carriage via a boom guying, in particular a length-adjustable luffing cable.

The derrick ballast is designed primarily as suspended ballast.

The derrick ballast comprises at least two ballast elements that can be stacked on top of one another, which are preferably plate-shaped, and a crossbeam that is connected to the derrick boom via a ballast guy and to the upper carriage via the guide mentioned. The guide connecting the derrick ballast to the upper carriage can have a variable length, which for example can be changed by an actuator. This allows the ballast radius and thus the maximum load to be changed with the same ballasting.

According to the invention, the crossbeam can be connected to a stack of ballast elements via at least one holding element, preferably via several holding elements. The crossbeam can thus represent a ballast frame, which can, for example, carry a partial ballast of the derrick ballast. When "the holding element" is mentioned below, this means the at least one holding element, i.e. it always includes several holding elements.

According to the invention, the holding element comprises first connecting means for detachably connecting the holding element to second connecting means of the ballast elements of the stack and is designed such that by moving the holding element and/or the cross member relative to the uncoupled stack placed on the ground, for example, the holding element can be connected to a partial stack of ballast elements of the stack.

In other words, the crossbeam or the holding element(s) can be separated from the stack of ballast elements, for example after it has been placed on the ground, and then the holding element(s) can be reconnected to some of the ballast elements in the stack or to a bottom ballast element in the stack, so that the stack now picked up by the crossbeam is smaller than the previous stack (and thus represents a partial stack). This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the ballast picked up by the crossbeam. Of course, the opposite is also possible: a picked up partial stack can be placed on another partial stack of ballast elements, the connection to the holding element(s) can be released and a connection can be made to a larger stack than before. This makes it possible to increase the weight of the ballast picked up by the crossbeam.

This makes it possible to optimally adapt the suspended ballast to the lifting operation to be carried out or planned at any time and without additional aids (such as an auxiliary crane). The limitations of known suspended ballasts described at the beginning can be significantly reduced with the solution according to the invention and the planning flexibility in the design of a lifting operation can be significantly increased.

The solution according to the invention thus provides a suspended ballast that can be autonomously and variably equipped, whereby in particular the term "autonomous" is to be understood as "can be operated without auxiliary devices" and the formulation "can be variably equipped" as "any equipment within the specified ballast units".

In this case, a partial stack can consist of any number of ballast elements from the original stack. Even a single ballast element can be considered a partial stack, so that in the simplest case, only the top ballast element of the stack can be connected to the holding element.

The at least one holding element can be detachably connected to the ballast elements, for example via bolt connections, screw connections, suspension connections or holding claws, locking clamps, sliding bolts, connecting wedges, locking cylinders and/or connecting tubes. Any combination of the aforementioned connecting means is also conceivable here. A particularly simple solution is achieved by using bolt connections.

In one possible embodiment, the derrick ballast comprises at least four holding elements. The crossbeam preferably has exactly four holding elements in order to keep the complexity of the structure to a minimum and reduce the effort required for ballast conversion. However, devices with more than four holding elements are also conceivable. The second connecting means are preferably located on the sides of the ballast elements. An embodiment is preferred in which the holding elements are arranged in four corner areas or at four corners of the crossbeam in plan view and can be connected to the second connecting means arranged on the sides of the ballast elements.

In another possible embodiment, the holding element is adjustably mounted on the crossbeam. The holding element is preferably mounted on the crossbeam so that it can be moved in the vertical direction. The term "vertical" refers here to the case where the crane is standing on a flat, horizontal surface. The holding element can preferably be fixed in at least two different positions on the crossbeam using locking means. The locking elements can be bolts.

This solution makes it possible, for example, to change the position of the first connecting means relative to the crossbeam and/or relative to the attachment points of the ballast guying and the guide on the crossbeam. This can have the effect that by adjusting the holding element, different combinations of ballast elements or different sized partial stacks can be connected to the holding element in order to change the weight of the derrick ballast. The holding element can protrude downwards from the crossbeam, for example hang downwards (e.g. in the case that the holding element is or includes a chain).

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that by lifting the crossbeam using the guide, the position of the first connecting means can be changed relative to the ballast elements that have been removed and possibly placed on the ground, so that a different number of ballast elements can be connected to the holding element. The holding element can be arranged fixedly, i.e. not adjustable, on the crossbeam.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the holding element is designed as a pull rod or comprises a pull rod. This can be understood to mean any element that is designed to transmit tensile forces, for example a pipe, a rod or a strip, which can be made of steel or a fiber composite material, for example. The pull rod is preferably oriented vertically. The first connecting means are preferably one behind the other arranged along the pull rod, ie they can, for example, form a linear arrangement.

By adjusting the holding element, the first connecting means are therefore displaced relative to the ballast plates or to their second connecting means, so that different first connecting means can be connected to different second connecting means and the number of ballast elements of the partial stack connected to the crossbeam can be varied. Alternatively, only one ballast element (in particular the lowest ballast element of the stack to be accommodated) can be connected to the holding element, so that by adjusting the holding element, the first connecting means can be brought into overlap or engagement with second connecting means of another ballast element.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the aforementioned locking means can be brought into engagement with the first connecting means of the holding element in order to releasably lock the holding element to the crossbeam, wherein preferably a connection of the holding element to the second connecting means of the ballast elements is made with the same (i.e. identically designed) locking means.

In a further possible embodiment, the locking means are designed as bolts or screws and the first and/or second connecting means comprise holes for receiving the bolts or screws. In the simplest case, the first and second connecting means are bolt receptacles and the locking means are bolts, whereby such bolts are also used for bolting the holding element to the ballast elements of the partial stack. Instead of bolts, however, other locking means such as slide locks or screws or a combination of these means can also be used.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the holding element is designed as a chain or rope or comprises one of these. The holding element can be a combination of pull rod and/or chain and/or rope. Alternatively or additionally, the holding element can comprise at least one element made of a fiber composite material or be designed as such. Furthermore, the holding element can be a pull tab or comprise one of these.

In a further possible embodiment, the derrick ballast is designed in such a way that the ballast elements attached to the crossbeam are located below the crossbeam, with the crossbeam preferably having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The ballast elements also preferably have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, with preferably four holding elements being arranged at the corners of the crossbeam and the ballast elements thus being held at four points on the crossbeam. This results in stable and secure storage of the ballast elements on the crossbeam.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the holding element and/or the cross member represents or comprises a steel construction, in particular a sheet metal and/or pipe construction or a sheet metal and/or pipe truss construction. An embodiment of the holding element and/or the cross member (or at least parts thereof) as a cast piece and/or as an element produced by means of an additive manufacturing process or 3D printing is also conceivable. The cross member can be made entirely or partially from a fiber composite material. This results in high stability while at the same time reducing its own weight.

In a further possible embodiment, the derrick ballast comprises a ballast base plate on which further ballast elements can be stored and/or stacked. The crossbeam with the ballast elements attached to it via the at least one holding element represents in particular a partial ballast of the entire derrick ballast, which can be separated from the rest of the derrick ballast, in particular from the said ballast base plate, and preferably separately as The traverse can be detachably connected to the ballast base plate with or without ballast elements attached to it (ie loaded or unloaded), in particular by means of bolt connections.

This allows the size of the "active" derrick ballast to be flexibly changed. For example, when erecting the boom, where a particularly high ballast moment is required, or for lifting tasks with particularly large loads, the entire derrick ballast can be used (i.e. the crossbeam with ballast elements attached to it is connected to the ballast base plate and further ballast stacks are stored on the latter). In lifting operations with smaller loads, the crossbeam can be separated from the ballast base plate and used with the full stack or a partial stack of ballast elements as a smaller suspended ballast. The rest of the derrick ballast (i.e. the ballast base plate with the other ballast elements) can remain on the ground during the lifting task. If necessary, the partial ballast with crossbeam can be reconnected to the ballast base plate.

In order to facilitate the connection process, which requires the exact positioning of the crossbeam relative to the ballast base plate, an assistance system and/or data recorded by sensors can be used. For example, the crossbeam can be placed precisely on the ballast base plate using recorded movement data from the crane's travel and slewing gear and/or using GPS data from one or more GPS modules. Such GPS modules can be arranged, for example, on the upper carriage, on the crossbeam and/or on the ballast base plate.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the derrick ballast comprises a coupling part which is connected or can be connected to the crossbeam and comprises attachment means to which the ballast guying can be attached. The guide is preferably also connected to the coupling part, in particular pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis. The coupling part can be part of the derrick ballast. The crossbeam can be integral or fixed to the coupling part. connected, e.g. welded. Alternatively, the crossbeam can be detachably connected to the coupling part via fastening elements. In the latter case, the first connecting means can also be adjusted relative to the uncoupled ballast elements by moving the crossbeam relative to the coupling part.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the cross member comprises first fastening means which can be detachably connected to second fastening means of the ballast base plate. The first and second fastening means can be directly connected to one another, in particular bolted. Alternatively, the cross member and the ballast base plate can be connected to one another via coupling elements (e.g. coupling strips or rods) which are connected to the first and second fastening means, in particular bolted. Alternatively, the first fastening means can be arranged on the coupling part mentioned.

In a further possible embodiment, the ballast base plate comprises a central receiving area to which or in which the partial ballast comprising the crossbeam can be fastened. The stack of ballast elements connected to the crossbeam can be deposited on the receiving area. The ballast base plate preferably has a deposit area on each side of the central receiving area on which further ballast elements can be deposited. In this case, in the connected state (i.e. the entire derrick ballast is "active"), the crossbeam and the stack or partial stack of ballast elements connected to it can be arranged between at least two towers of further ballast elements that are mounted on the ballast base plate.

In a further possible embodiment, it is provided that the second connecting means of the ballast elements of the stack, which can be connected to the first connecting means of a holding element, lie on a common straight line. The straight line runs parallel and, in the connected state, in particular coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the holding element. If several holding elements are present, the second connecting means assigned to the various holding elements each lie on such a straight line, with the straight lines preferably being parallel to one another.

By means of a translational movement of the holding element relative to the second connecting means, in particular a vertical adjustment of the holding element, in particular a part of the first connecting means previously assigned to a first number of ballast elements of the stack can be brought into overlap or engagement with the second connecting means of a second number of ballast elements of the stack.

In other words, a translational movement of the holding element means that the first connecting means, which were previously connected to a specific arrangement of second connecting means of the ballast elements, can now be brought into overlap or engagement with the second connecting means of other ballast elements, so that by establishing the corresponding connections, a different number or a partial stack of ballast elements is now connected to the holding element. This allows the ballasting of the partial ballast comprising the crossbeam to be changed. The ballast elements not connected to the holding elements remain lying on the ground in particular.

Alternatively, only one ballast element (in particular the lowest ballast element of the stack to be accommodated) can be connected to the holding element at a time, so that by adjusting the holding element the corresponding first connecting means can be brought into overlap or engagement with second connecting means of another ballast element.

The present invention further relates to a derrick ballast for a crane according to the invention. This obviously results in the same properties and advantages as for the crane according to the invention. All embodiments and design options of the derrick ballast and/or its subcomponents described in relation to the crane therefore also apply to the derrick ballast according to the invention, in any combination.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Gesamtansicht (linke Abbildung) und eine vergrößerte Ansicht des Derrickballasts (rechte Abbildung) eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Krans;

Fig. 2:

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der Traverse des Derrickballasts in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 3:

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Traverse des Derrickballasts in einer perspektivischen Ansicht; und

Fig. 4-8:

seitliche Ansichten der Traverse in unterschiedlichen Stellungen beim Umrüsten des ersten Teilballasts.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the embodiments explained below with reference to the figures. They show:

Fig. 1:

a schematic overall view (left illustration) and an enlarged view of the derrick ballast (right illustration) of an embodiment of the crane according to the invention;

Fig. 2:

a first embodiment of the traverse of the derrick ballast in a perspective view;

Fig. 3:

a second embodiment of the traverse of the derrick ballast in a perspective view; and

Fig. 4-8:

side views of the traverse in different positions when converting the first partial ballast.

The Figure 1 The left-hand illustration shows a schematic, perspective overall view of an embodiment of the crane 10 according to the invention. This comprises a mobile undercarriage 12 and an upper carriage 14 mounted on the undercarriage 12 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation, at the rear of which there is a derrick ballast 20. The right-hand illustration shows an enlarged view of the rear of the upper carriage indicated by the circle in the left-hand illustration, including the derrick ballast 20.

The crane 10 of the embodiment shown here is a crawler crane with a lattice boom as the main boom 16 (hereinafter referred to as "boom"), which is hinged to the upper carriage 14 about a horizontal luffing axis. The undercarriage 12 comprises a crawler chassis and is supported on the ground via the two lateral crawler supports of the crawler chassis. In addition to the boom 16, the crane 10 has a derrick boom 18, which is also hinged to the upper carriage 14 so that it can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis. At the rear of the upper carriage there is an upper carriage ballast 15 with several (in the embodiment shown here, two lateral ballast stacks are stacked on top of each other) ballast elements. The derrick boom 18 is connected to the boom 16 via a boom guy 17, in particular a length-adjustable luffing cable. The derrick boom 18 is in turn connected to the pivoting A-frame of the superstructure via a derrick guy. The derrick boom 18 can also be connected to an A-frame 13 that is permanently connected to the superstructure via a boom guy 17, in particular a length-adjustable luffing cable.

In addition to the superstructure ballast 15, the crane 10 has a derrick ballast 20, which is designed as a suspended ballast. The derrick ballast 20 comprises a ballast base plate 22 on which several ballast elements 21, 25 are arranged. The derrick ballast 20 is connected to the rear of the superstructure via a preferably length-adjustable guide 11 and to the tip or the free end of the derrick boom 18 via a length-adjustable ballast guy 19. In the embodiment shown here, the ballast guy 19 comprises two parallel guy strands, the length of which can be changed, for example, via a hydraulic pulling cylinder, but at least one cylinder, and the weight actively acting through the derrick ballast 20 can therefore be adjusted in height.

With regard to the functions of the luffing cable, derrick guying and ballast guying 19 as well as the derrick ballast 20, reference is made to the introductory explanations, which also apply to the crane 10 according to the embodiment shown here. A repeated explanation is therefore largely dispensed with.

In the embodiment shown here, the derrick ballast 20 is designed to be divisible. The derrick ballast 20 comprises a first partial ballast, which comprises a centrally arranged stack of ballast elements 21 and a crossbeam 30, and a second partial ballast, which comprises the ballast base plate 22 and two lateral stacks of further ballast elements 25. The first partial ballast is arranged in a central receiving area 27 of the derrick ballast 20 in the connected state.

The derrick ballast 20 is connected to the guide 11 and the ballast guy 19 via the crossbeam 30 and can thus be lifted over the crossbeam in the connected state.

The first partial ballast comprises first fastening means 34, while the ballast base plate 22 has second fastening means 24 in the area of the central receiving area 27. The first partial ballast can be detachably connected, in particular bolted, to the ballast base plate 22 and thus to the second partial ballast via the first and second fastening means 24, 34, so that the derrick ballast 20 can be lifted together or brought into the floating state. The first and second fastening means 24, 34 can be connected directly to one another or via coupling elements. In the embodiment of the Figure 1 Coupling rods are arranged between the fastening means 24, 34.

The guide 11 is preferably connected to the upper carriage 14 so that it can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis and can preferably be pivoted about said pivot axis by means of an actuator, e.g. one or more hydraulic cylinders. This allows the derrick ballast 20 to be adjusted vertically and, for example, placed on the ground or lifted off the ground. At the same time, the ballast guying 19 can be adjusted, in particular via the aforementioned tension cylinders. The guide 11 is also connected to the derrick ballast 20 so that it can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis.

For heavy lifting tasks where large loads have to be moved, or when erecting the boom 16, a large ballast moment is required, so that the first and second partial ballasts are connected to one another and the entire derrick ballast 20 can be used as suspended ballast. For many lifting tasks, however, a smaller ballast moment is required. In this case, the first partial ballast with the crossbeam 30 and the ballast stack 21 can be detached from the ballast base plate 22 or from the second partial ballast and used as a smaller suspended ballast. The second partial ballast then remains on the ground and can be reconnected to the first partial ballast at a later time.

To ensure that the first partial ballast is set down precisely, the coupling process can be supported by a positioning system, for example by recording the position of the set down second partial ballast and the position of the crane 10 and/or the first partial ballast. This can be achieved, for example, using recorded movement data from the travel and slewing gear or using GPS systems.

The Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the cross member 30 of the first partial ballast in a perspective view. This corresponds to the Fig. 1 shown embodiment variant. The cross member 30 comprises two profile parts 36 which, when viewed from the side, have a substantially triangular shape and are aligned parallel to one another. Other shapes are of course also conceivable, e.g. a rectangular shape when viewed from the side. The profile parts 36 are connected to one another via connecting pieces 37; in the present embodiment, these are two coupling rods 37 which connect the lower corners of the triangular profile parts 36.

For example, two forks 38 are attached to the coupling rods 37, in each of which a holding element 32 is accommodated. In the embodiment shown here, the holding elements 32 are designed as vertically oriented, elongated holding rods, which can be made of steel or a fiber composite material, for example. Alternative forms of the holding elements 32 are also conceivable, e.g. chains (see. Fig. 3 ), ropes, pull tabs or the like.

The four holding elements 32 have a plurality of holes which function as first connecting means 33. These are designed in particular as bolt receptacles for forming bolt connections with corresponding bolts 26, but can also have a different shape, e.g. hook elements. In the embodiment shown here, the first connecting means 33 are arranged one behind the other along the holding elements 32 and simultaneously serve to detachably fasten the ballast elements 21 to the holding elements 32 and to fasten the holding elements 32 to the forks 38. For this purpose, the ballast elements 21 have corresponding second connecting means 23 on the sides, which can be designed as bolt receptacles on laterally protruding connecting sections (cf. Fig. 6 ).

The forks 38 also have corresponding connecting means. The connection between the holding elements 32 and the forks 38 and between the holding elements 32 and the ballast elements 21 is made in particular via locking bolts 26. Alternatively, a screw connection would be conceivable.

The holding elements 32 can be detachably fastened in the forks 38, so that by pulling the locking bolts 36, which function as locking means 36, the holding elements 32 can be moved relative to the cross member 30 and in particular adjusted in the vertical direction. They can then be bolted in a different position in the forks 38, for example by using other first connecting means 33. This allows the length of the holding elements 32 to be varied downwards in the direction of the ballast elements 21, the step size depending on the distances between the first connecting means 33.

This configuration allows the number of ballast elements 21 attached to the holding elements 32 and thus held by the crossbeam 30 to be varied flexibly and easily. For example, it is possible to set the ballast stack on the ground, release the connection to the holding elements 32, lift the holding elements 32 and/or the crossbeam 30 and connect a partial stack (ie a stack with fewer ballast elements 21 stacked on top of one another than the previously set stack) to the holding elements 32. This allows the weight of the first partial ballast to be changed quickly and easily. This process is shown as an example in the Figures 4-7 shown in side views of the cross member 30, whereby the first embodiment of the cross member of the Figure 2 is used.

The Figure 4 shows the first partial ballast in the ballasted state (in this embodiment, these are four ballast elements 21 arranged one above the other). In this case, only the lowest ballast element 21 can be connected to the holding elements 32 via locking bolts 26, while the remaining ballast elements 21 lie on top of one another and are connected, for example, via other connecting elements (eg interlocking projections and recesses) so that they do not slip. Alternatively, due to the large number of first connecting means 33, it can be provided that all ballast elements 21 are connected to the holding elements 32.

In order to reduce the weight of this partial ballast, it is lowered to the ground by lowering the guide 11, as shown in the Figure 5 is shown. In this unloaded state, the connections between the ballast elements 21 (in the embodiment shown, the lowest ballast element 21) and the holding elements 32 can be released. The guide is then raised so that the crossbeam 30 and thus also the holding elements 32 move in the vertical direction relative to the set-down stack 21. The crossbeam 30 is raised until the first connecting means 33 of the holding elements 32 are at the height of the second connecting means 23 of those upper ballast elements 21 which are to be reconnected to the crossbeam 30 in the weight-reduced configuration. In the embodiment of the Figure 6 only the top ballast element 21 is to be connected to the crossbeam 30, whereby this ballast element 21 then forms a partial stack of the original stack of four ballast elements 21. The second connecting means 23 of the top ballast element 21 are bolted to the appropriate (in this embodiment, the bottom) first connecting means 33 of the holding elements 32 (cf. Fig. 6 ).

The traverse 30 is then raised again, whereby the released or uncoupled ballast elements 21 of the original stack (in the Fig. 7 these are the lower three ballast elements 21) remain on the ground and only the partial stack 21' connected to the holding elements 32 (in Fig. 7 the uppermost ballast element 21') is raised. This means that a suspended ballast with reduced weight is now available.

In order to change the ballasting again, the partial stack 21' is placed back on the deposited ballast elements 21, the connection of the holding elements 32 is released, the crossbeam 30 is lowered by a suitable distance and the second connecting means 23 of the desired partial ballast (or those of the lowest ballast element 21 of the desired partial ballast) are again connected to the holding elements 32.

Alternatively, the connections between the holding elements 32 and the forks 38 can be loosened and the holding elements 32 can be moved relative to the crossbeam 30 for reballasting. This possibility is described in the Figure 8 after reballasting and lifting of the partial stack 21'.

As already mentioned, it is possible to connect only the lowest ballast element 21 of the stack to be lifted to the holding elements 32 (as shown in the Figures 4-8 shown), or all ballast elements 21 of the lifted stack. In the former case, the first connecting means 33 can also be arranged only in an upper region of the holding elements 32 in order to be able to connect the holding elements 32 to the forks 38 in different positions relative to the crossbeam 30.

As in the Figure 2 As shown, the first partial ballast can comprise a coupling part 40, which has attachment means 42 (in particular bolt receptacles) for fastening the ballast guy 19 and a corresponding connection point for the guide 11. The cross member 30 can be detachably connected to the coupling part 40. In the Fig. 2 a configuration is shown in which the profile parts 36 represent sheet metal constructions, each with a gap into which the tabs 44 of the coupling part 40 can be inserted. The tabs 44 can be detachably connected to the profile parts 36 via fastening elements 39, for example bolts.

As in the Figure 1 and also in the Figures 4-8 As can be seen, in one embodiment the first fastening means 34 for connecting the first partial ballast to the ballast base plate 22 can be arranged on the coupling part 40, for example on extensions of the aforementioned tabs 44, so that the cross member 30 is neither directly connected to the guide 11 and ballast guy 19 nor to the ballast base plate 22.

The Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the crossbeam 30 according to the invention. Here, the coupling part 40 is also designed differently and does not have any tabs with first fastening means 34. The latter are instead formed on the crossbeam 30. In this embodiment, this comprises four profile parts 36, with two profile parts 36 on each side being connected via coupling pieces 31 (eg in the form of coupling strips or rods, as in the Fig. 3 shown, whereby the coupling pieces 31 can also be designed as tubular or shaped profile constructions), in particular detachably, are connected to one another. In turn, the profile parts 36 of each side are connected to one another via connecting pieces 37, whereby the holding elements 32 are arranged on the connecting pieces 37. The cross member 30 can in turn be detachably or also firmly connected to the coupling part 40.

The holding elements 32 can, as in the embodiment of the Fig. 2 , designed as tie rods. In the Fig. 3 another embodiment is shown, in which the holding elements 32 are designed as chains that hang down from the connecting pieces 37 and each have a first connecting means 33 on the underside for connection to the respective lowest ballast element 21 of the stack to be lifted. In this embodiment, the first connecting means 33 are designed as eyelets or snap hooks or pull tabs, whereby alternatively connecting parts with one or more holes for receiving bolts or screws can also be provided. The process of reballasting is carried out analogously to that in the Figures 4-7 process shown.

Preferably and independently of the embodiment shown, the cross member 30 can remain attached to the coupling part 40 alone, depending on the ballasting variant, or can be completely removed.

The crossbeam 30 represents the support structure of the first partial ballast of the derrick ballast 20 according to the invention, ie the support structure of the "autonomously variably divisible suspended ballast" thus realized. The crossbeam 30 can represent a steel construction, which for example is in the form of a sheet metal or a tubular truss construction, a cast piece or from a 3D printing process. In addition, the Traverse 30 can be made from alternative materials such as fiber composites, high-strength aluminum, etc.

To connect the holding elements 32 to the crossbeam 30 and/or to the ballast elements 21, bolts, screws, holding claws, locking clamps, sliding bolts, connecting wedges, locking cylinders and/or locking tubes can be used as connecting elements.

List of reference symbols:

10

crane

11

guide

12

undercarriage

13

guy frame / A-frame

14

superstructure

16

boom

17

boom guying

18

derrick boom

19

ballast guying

20

derrick ballast

21

ballast element

21'

ballast element

22

ballast base plate

23

Second connecting means

24

Second fastener

25

Additional ballast elements

26

locking device

27

central reception area

30

traverse

31

coupling piece

32

holding element

33

First connecting means

34

First fastener

36

profile part

37

connector

38

bracket

39

fastener

40

coupling part

42

lifting gear

44

tab

Claims (15)

Crane (10) comprising an undercarriage (12), an upper carriage (14) rotatably mounted on the undercarriage (12), a boom (16) connected to the upper carriage (14) in a luffing manner, a derrick boom (18) connected in an articulated manner to the upper carriage (14), via which the boom (16) is guyed, a guide (20) connected to the upper carriage (14) and a derrick ballast (20) designed in particular as a suspended ballast, wherein the derrick ballast (20) comprises at least two ballast elements (21) which can be stacked on top of one another and a crossbeam (30) which is connected to the derrick boom (18) via a ballast guying (19) and to the upper carriage (14) via the guide (19),
characterized by
that the cross member (30) can be connected to a stack of ballast elements (21) via at least one holding element (32), wherein the holding element (32) comprises first connecting means (33) for detachably connecting the holding element (32) to second connecting means (23) of the ballast elements (21) of the stack and is designed such that by moving the holding element (32) and/or the cross member (30) relative to the uncoupled stack, the holding element (32) can be connected to a partial stack of ballast elements (21) of the stack. Crane (10) according to claim 1, wherein the derrick ballast (20) comprises at least four holding elements (32) which are preferably connectable to second connecting means (23) on the sides of the ballast elements (21), wherein the holding elements (32) are preferably arranged in plan view on four corner regions of the crossbeam (30). Crane (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding element (32) is adjustable, in particular displaceable in the vertical direction, mounted on the crossbeam (30) and can preferably be fixed in at least two different positions on the crossbeam (30) via locking means (26), wherein the holding element (32) protrudes in particular downwards from the crossbeam (30). Crane (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the holding element (32) is designed as a pull rod or comprises a pull rod which is in particular vertically oriented, wherein the first connecting means (33) are preferably arranged one behind the other along the pull rod (32). Crane (10) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the locking means (26) can be brought into engagement with the first connecting means (33) of the holding element (32) in order to releasably lock the holding element (32) to the crossbeam (30), wherein preferably a connection of the holding elements (32) to the second connecting means (23) of the ballast elements (21) is made with the same locking means (26). Crane (10) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the locking means (26) are designed as bolts or screws and the first and/or second connecting means (23, 33) comprise bores for receiving the bolts or screws. Crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (32) is designed as a chain or rope or comprises such a chain or rope. Crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the derrick ballast (20) is designed such that the ballast elements (21) fastened to the crossbeam (30) are located below the crossbeam (30), wherein the crossbeam (30) preferably has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. Crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (32) and/or the crossbeam (30) comprises a steel construction, in particular a sheet metal and/or tube construction and/or at least one casting and/or at least one element manufactured by means of an additive manufacturing process and/or at least one element manufactured from a fiber composite material. Crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the derrick ballast (20) comprises a ballast base plate (22) on which further ballast elements (25) can be mounted, wherein the crossbeam (30) with or without ballast elements (21) attached thereto can be detachably connected to the ballast base plate (22), in particular by means of bolt connections. Crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the derrick ballast (20) comprises a coupling part (40) which is or can be connected to the crossbeam (30) and comprises attachment means (42) to which the ballast guy (19) can be fastened, wherein the coupling part (40) is preferably connected to the guide (11), in particular is connected to the guide (11) so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis. Crane (10) according to the two preceding claims, wherein the crossbeam (30) or the coupling part (40) comprises first fastening means (34) which can be detachably connected to second fastening means (34) of the ballast base plate (22). Crane (10) according to one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the ballast base plate (22) comprises a central receiving area (27) to which the crossbeam (30) can be fastened and on which preferably the Stacks of ballast elements (21) can be deposited, wherein the ballast base plate (22) preferably has storage areas on both sides of the central receiving area (27) on which further ballast elements (25) can be deposited. Crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second connecting means (23) of the ballast elements (21) of the stack, which can be connected to the first connecting means (33) of a holding element (32), lie on a common straight line which runs parallel and, in the connected state, in particular coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the holding element (32), wherein, in particular by a translational movement of the holding element (32) relative to the second connecting means (23), a part of the first connecting means (33) previously assigned to a first number of ballast elements (21) of the stack can be brought into overlap or engagement with the second connecting means (23) of a second number of ballast elements (21) of the stack. Derrick ballast (20) for a crane (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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