[0001] The subject of this invention is a mobile built-up folding crane as a device to lift
up the heaviest loads, even above 500 tons, which also means that it is used to lift
up or transfer sizeable loads adequate to their weights.
[0002] It is know from generally available information that crane structures for such loads
also require adequately large dimensions, and thereby above-average bending and torsional
strength of the structure.
[0003] To ensure appropriate parameters, generally solid plate girder or section structures
are used most often, and it is known that prefabricated elements are most often welded
together in order to acquire appropriate size. This, in turn, creates essential inconvenience
that consists in being unable to set up the structure but temporarily for the purposes
of performing strength tests or checking up of standard operation of the device so
that one could disassemble it, transport and set the structure up again at the place
of destination.
[0004] Folding cranes are known that facilitate performing of final structure or transporting
to the place of founding. Unfortunately, sizable hoist or crane structures need to
be displaced to another target place of work as early as when being set up and operated
on a standard basis. It is seldom possible, that there is no need to change the place
of work.
[0005] For sizeable structures, displacement is often done by sea, river or road transport.
It is inconvenient for structures already completed to be displaced under bridges,
overhead railway lines or power lines.
[0006] From utility design
PL63368 a folding crane is known with rotary mechanism of boom inclination change. In that
crane, column and side plates combined permanently with the boom have holes distributed
so that they enable placing it in two positions: working or transport one. It is possible
when using a rotation pin inserted in these holes.
[0007] From application
EP0408111, a structure of self-winching crane is known, which is set up in the form of U-shaped
arm that rests through a pin on a support tower, preferably rotary one, on which or
in which a winching mechanism with winching and lifting ropes is mounted. Angle range
of arm rotation is up to 90 degrees vertically and up to 360 degrees horizontally,
with the support tower height much lower than the arm range.
[0008] The structures presented eliminate the problem related to displacement of ready-made
crane, however, they do not decide about the possibility of easy transportation prior
to final setting up of final crane structure. In structures designed for hoisting
above 500 tons, arm lowering itself seems to be insufficient because of considerable
crane size.
[0009] From application
US2008173605, a large lattice mobile crane is known, whose arms include modules joined together.
The modules are composed of corner posts to which bars joining together the corner
posts are mounted by means of flat fork and finger-like bosses. The bars hang on a
pin that runs through the fork and finger-like bosses so that it is possible for them
to rotate around it. The bars by means of a mounting with rotation capability enable
folding of a simple latticed module structure, whereas adjacent latticed modules are
joined together rigidly and separably through a pin located in each post end, which
end is the flat fork and finger-like post bosses. The bars are preferably folded telescopically.
[0010] The structure enables transportation of the modules after folding and disconnecting
them, however, it seems that the method of mounting together of elements that consists
in inserting of the pin inside the flat fork and finger-like bosses is insufficient
to ensure appropriate breaking strength or that of torsion of the module structure
itself or among the modules during crane operation.
[0011] An almost identical structure is also known from application
US2012031868, where an additional stiffening bar is added to reinforce the structure in its folded
position. However, mutual mounting of the modules among themselves is still based
on a single pin which hangs on flat bosses, and thus it does not provide sufficient
protection from breaking and torsion forces as in the example above.
[0012] From application
US2004238471, a tower crane of lattice construction is known, in which ready-made and unconvertible
modules are connected with one another as previously by means of a pin located separably
and rigidly in holes of flat module-end bosses. The pin is wedged by a cotter or a
flat wedge that runs through the pin.
[0013] From application
PCT/NL98/00313, a device for lifting up of big loads is known, which contains at least one lifting
mast, a foot located on the bottom side and a lifting unit connected with at least
one top, wherein the lifting device is fitted out of mast elements joined together
by means of linking units, and each mast element is designed as framing construction
composed of squares and bars that connect them crosswise. The squares are composed
of two parts in the shape of a right-angled triangle, each one of different dimensions,
that are supported by feet, where the linking units get inside the squares and are
adjusted to that interior tightly and slidingly. Each linking unit as independent
module contains two identical plate elements with filler placed between them, wherein
at least two holes are made in the plate element, on its edge opposite the holes of
the other plate elements, and these holes, after inserting of the linking unit inside
the square, correspond axially to the holes on the square ends, and thereby adjacent
elements of the mast are connected with each other with pins through the elements.
The filler is preferably located between the plate element holes.
[0014] The presented solution assumes, however, that single element of the mast is made
inseparably, and does not exceed dimensions of a typical container or matches them
accurately at best.
[0015] Therefore, the structure facilitates considerably neither transportation prior to
installation nor displacement of ready-made, set-up, and operative form of the structure
as device.
[0016] None of the mentioned structures, however, achieves both aspects of mobility to a
sufficiently high degree, namely mobility prior to building up of the final structure,
and possibility of displacing the already complete structure, wherein the degree of
modular construction of the crane is considerable, and even if they did, they do not
make it possible to set up such a modular construction allowing for its highest possible
strength in built-up form during its operation, while obtaining the lightest possible
form of such structure.
[0017] The objective of the solution according to an embodiment of the present invention
is obtaining such a structure which will at the same time satisfy the need of structure
mobility understood in two ways, namely, easy transportation of structure elements
of a big crane to its place of destination irrespective of how long an in what condition
the transport route is, while obtaining mobility of the set-up structure already as
operative big crane. Another purpose is for the structure to have the highest possible
breaking and torsion strength while maintaining possibly the lightest weight of masts
in the form or arms. Attaining of the set objectives is particularly difficult for
big cranes of lifting capacity above 500 tons, located on a mobile base, mostly afloat
one, which nonetheless turned out to be feasible thanks to the present invention.
[0018] Mobile built-up folding crane of modular construction according to an embodiment
of the present invention contains at least one boom, a rotary tower with column on
a foot located on a mobile foundation, a lifting unit connected with at least one
top, wherein the boom is fitted out of boom modules joined together by means of the
linking units. Each boom module is designed as framing structure composed of stringers
and cross-bars and, inclusively or exclusively, bars connecting them slantwise that
reinforce the framing structure, wherein stringer is made up of at least two parts,
and the linking units are tightly adjusted and contain filler and holes. The lifting
unit is equipped with at least one winch with ropes. The mobile built-up folding crane
is characterized by that the modules of at least one boom can be dismantled into smaller
and basically individual elements, which are mainly stringers and bars. Each individual
stringer is fitted with at least two bosses tipped with collars, wherein the collars
may be located at the ends or inside the stringer length at right angle or acute angle
in relation to the stringer, and single bar is fitted at its ends with collars, wherein
the boss, and, inclusively or exclusively, the collar constitute an element of the
linking unit, because the bars to not need to have bosses. Each collar has a cavity
in which hard, rigid and solid filler resistant to shearing and torsional forces is
tightly placed, and a stiffening linking unit, wherein envelope-like distributed holes
in collars are adjusted axially against one another, creating together with the pins
that run through them a collar and pin connection, preferably a collar and bolt one.
The filler also fulfils a function of guiding the elements during their installation.
The stringers and bars are hollow inside, which makes the structure light, wherein
at least the stringers are made as a closed welded element of metal plates of limited
resistance to plastic deformation of at least 690MPa. The other boom is located symmetrically
against the main boom on the other side of the rotary tower in the shape of a cone
or cylinder to whose base booms are fitted rotationally by means of pins. The booms
are connected with each other by means of the lifting unit ropes supported on their
tops. The tower cone enables the lifting unit ropes supported on the boom tops to
run unimpeded next to the cone top when the booms are in their maximum horizontal
and outreached position, and to easily reach their maximum vertical position when
they are in that position, even though they are supported on the cone. The shape of
the tower cone also makes it possible for the boom to be considerably close (retracted)
towards rotation axis of the crane, which is much advisable in order to acquire maximum
outreaches of the crane. Elements of the foot are preferably linked by means of the
collar and bolt connection, and may contain filler inside for stiffening or guiding
while assembling or ensuring tightness. Similarly, elements of the column are preferably
linked by means of the collar and bolt connection, and may contain filler inside for
the same purpose. Also, the elements of the tower are preferably linked by means of
the collar and bolt connection that preferably contains filler inside. This type of
connection allows disassembly of these elements and assembly in another place, which
hasn't been done to date. The tower and, inclusively or exclusively, the foot, and,
inclusively or exclusively, the column, and inclusively or exclusively, the bars,
can also be made of metal plates of limited resistance to plastic deformation of at
least 690MPa. The column on the foot, and, inclusively or exclusively, the tower on
the column, and, inclusively or exclusively, the tower on the foot can be mounted
rotationally by means of slide bearing, which allows considerable lowering of their
structure. The lifting unit can be equipped with at least one pair of winches, from
which pair winching ropes of the lifting unit are wound on one winch, and drawing
ropes of the lifting unit are wound on the other winch. The number of winch pairs
can be multiplied. Boom modules in cross-section may have the shape of a triangle
or rectangle through the top of which stringers run. The bars can be placed against
the stringers at a 90-degrees, and, inclusively or exclusively, 45-degrees, and, inclusively
or exclusively, 30-degrees, and, inclusively or exclusively, 60-degrees angle or at
another angle. Cross-section of the stringers may have the shape of a triangle or
rectangle or pentagon or hexagon or octagon or circle, and can be preferably reinforced
inside. The stringer can be made of metal plates in the shape of squares, preferably
rectangular ones. The stringer can be made of metal plates in the shape of a channel,
preferably rectangular one, and at least one flat bar, or it can be made of two metal
plates in the shape of channels. The stringer can be made of metal plates in the shape
of flat bars. The stringer can be made of metal plates in the shape of channel ad
T-bar. The stringer can be made of a greater number of metal plates in the shape T-bars
and flat bars. There can be at least 3 envelope-like distributed holes in the collar
connection, wherein this distribution is preferably envelope-like even. The conical
tower is preferably significantly lower than the position of the top of any boom set
in its maximum vertical position, and at most equal to the position of the higher
placed top of any of the booms in their lower position. Any collar connection is tight,
and the stringers and bars are closed, thereby the elements are not exposed to rusting
and decay. Stringer side in cross-section can be of dimension at least 150mm, preferably
at least 250mm, and at best at least 600mm. The bar in cross-section can be of dimension
at least 150mm, preferably at least 200mm, and at best at least 250mm. The boom module
in cross-section can be of dimension at least 1.5m, preferably at least 3m, and at
best at least 4.5m. Previously stated dimensions are preferable to attain the objective
for big built-up and folding cranes, and with this assumption from the point of view
of strength and cost effectiveness. The boom module can be preferably 25m long at
most, preferably less than 12.5m, and this in turn allows easy transportation and
length accommodation to means of transport. Overall length of the boom is preferably
greater than 50m, and at best greater than 100m, which decides about usefulness and
range of the device. A mobile foundation can be that of a vessel deck or wheeled vehicle
or rail vehicle, which in turn definitely allows attaining of the objective in any
conditions.
[0019] The solution according to an embodiment of the present invention allows to repeatedly
unfold and fold the booms to transport and working positions respectively, without
the necessity of taking apart of the mobile crane into modular elements or basic elements.
The structure according to an embodiment of the present invention also allows to take
apart the mobile crane into basic elements and their road transport to another place
of work in general. Lightness of the elements makes transportation and assembly easy.
Dismantling to basic elements allows assembly at test site right next to production
plant, and then, after completing trials/tests, to disassemble and assemble in identical
form at the site of target installation, for instance at shipyard or port.
[0020] The solution according to an embodiment of the present invention is demonstrated
in the example of implementation on a drawing on which figures shows:
Fig. 1 - the mobile built-up folding crane in the unfolded position,
Fig.2 - the mobile built-up folding crane in the position of maximum vertical inclination
of the booms,
Fig. 3 - details of installing the booms to the tower,
Fig. 4 - detail of the boom with the boom module brought out,
Fig. 5 - details of the boom module, and
Fig. 6 - details of exemplary linking unit.
[0021] Exemplary mobile built-up folding crane of modular construction contains two booms
1, rotary tower
2 with column
3 on foot
4 located on mobile foundation
5, this being vessel deck, lifting unit
6 connected with two tops
7 of booms
1, wherein boom
1 is fitted out of boom modules
8 joined together by means of linking units
9. Each boom module
8 is designed like framing construction composed of stringers
10 and bars
11 that connect them crosswise and slantwise and reinforce the framing structure, wherein
stringer
10 is composed of at least four parts, and linking units
9 are tightly adjusted and contain filler
12 and holes
13. Lifting unit
6 is equipped with four winches
14 with ropes. Modules of both booms
1 can me dismantled into smaller and basically individual elements. Smaller elements
of the longer boom
1 are mainly stringers
10 and bars
11. Each individual stringer
10 is fitted with at least two bosses
15 tipped with collars
16, wherein bosses
15 are located at the ends and inside the stringer
10 length at right angle or acute angle in relation to the stringer, and single bar
11 is fitted at its ends with collars
16. Boss
15 and, inclusively or exclusively, collar
16 constitute element of linking unit
9, because bars
11 do not have bosses
15. Each collar
16 of stringer
10 has cavity
17 in which hard, rigid and solid filler
18 resistant to shearing and torsional forces is tightly placed, and linking unit 9
that stiffens and guides, wherein envelope-like distributed holes
13 in collars
16 are adjusted axially against one another, creating together with pins
20 that run through them collar and pin connection
19. Stringers
10 and bars
11 are hollow inside, which makes the structure light, wherein stringers
10 are made as closed welded element of metal plates of limited resistance to plastic
deformation of at least 900MPa. The other boom
1 is located symmetrically against the main boom on the other side of rotary tower
2 in the shape of a cone, to whose base booms
1 are fitted rotationally by means of pins
20. Booms
1 are connected with each other by means of the lifting unit ropes supported on their
tops. Tower cone
2 enables ropes
21 of lifting unit
6 supported on tops
7 of booms
1 to run unimpeded next to cone top
2 when the booms are in their lower position, and to easily reach their maximum vertical
position close to 90 degrees when they are in that position, even though they are
supported on the cone. Elements of foot
4 are linked by means of collar and bolt connection
19. Similarly, elements of column
3 are linked by means of collar and bolt connection
19. Also, elements of tower
2 are linked by means of collar and bolt connection
19. This type of connection allows disassembly of these elements and assembly in another
place, which hasn't been done to date. Tower
2 and inclusively foot
4 and inclusively column
3 are also made of metal plates of limited resistance to plastic deformation equal
to 1100MPa. Tower
2 on column
3 is mounted rotationally by means of slide bearing, which allows considerable lowering
of their structure. Lifting unit
6 is equipped with two pairs of winches
14, from which each pair winching ropes
21 of lifting unit
6 are wound on one winch
14, and drawing ropes
21 of lifting unit
6 are wound on the other winch
14. Boom modules
8 in cross-section have the shape of a rectangle through the top of which stringers
10 run. Some bars
11 are placed against stringers
10 at a 90-degrees, and other ones at 45-degrees angle. Cross-section of stringer
10 may have the shape of a rectangle and is reinforced inside. Stringer
10 is made of rectangular squares. Stringer
10 is reinforced with flat bar welded inside to the squares. There are 4 envelope-like
distributed holes in the collar connection, wherein their distribution is envelope-like
even. Conical tower
2 is significantly lower than the position of top
7 of any boom
1 set in its maximum vertical position, and at most equal to the position of the higher
placed top
7 of any of booms
1 in their lower position. Boom collar connections are tight, and stringers
10 and bars
11 are closed, thereby the elements are not exposed to rusting and decay. Side of stringer
10 in cross-section is of dimension 600 mm. Bar
11 in cross-section is of dimension 300 mm. Boom module
8 in cross-section is of dimension 6 m and 8 m, and thereby creates a rectangle. Module
of boom
8 is 24 m long. Overall length of boom
1 is greater than 100 m, which decides about usefulness and range of the device.
1. A mobile built-up folding crane, of modular construction, containing at least one
boom (1), rotary tower (2) with column (3), on foot (4) placed on mobile foundation
(5), lifting unit (6) connected with at least one top (7), wherein the boom (1) is
fitted out of boom modules (8) joined together by means of the linking unit (9), and
each boom module (8) is designed like framing construction composed of stringers (10)
and bars (11) that connect them crosswise and/or slantwise, wherein the stringer (10)
is composed of at least two parts, and the linking units (9) are tightly adjusted
and contain filler (18) and holes (13), whereas the lifting unit (6) is equipped with
at least one winch (14), characterized in that modules of at least one boom (1) are dismantable into smaller and basically individual
elements, which are mainly stringers (10) and bars (11), wherein each individual stringer
(10) is fitted with at least two bosses (15) tipped with collars (16), and single
bar (11) is fitted at its ends with collars (16), wherein boss (15) and/or collar
(16) constitute element of linking unit (9), and each collar (16) has cavity (17),
in which hard, rigid and solid filler (18) resistant to shearing and torsional forces
is tightly placed, wherein envelope-like distributed holes (13) in collars (16) are
adjusted axially against one another, creating together with pins (20) that run through
them collar and pin connection (19'), preferably collar and bolt connection (19),
whereas stringers (10) and bars (11) are hollow inside, wherein at least stringers
(10) are made as a closed welded element of metal plates of limited resistance to
plastic deformation of at least 690 MPa, whereas the other boom (1) is located symmetrically
against main boom (1) on the other side of rotary tower (2) in the shape of a cone
or cylinder, to whose base booms (1) are fitted rotationally by means of pins (20),
booms (1) being connected with each other on their tops (7) by means of ropes (21)
of lifting unit (6).
2. The mobile built-up folding crane according to claim 1, characterised in that elements of foot (4) are linked by means of collar and bolt connection (19), that
preferably contains filler (18) inside.
3. The mobile built-up folding crane according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that elements of column (3) are linked by means of collar and bolt connection (19), that
preferably contains filler (18) inside.
4. The mobile built-up folding crane according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that elements of tower (2) are linked by means of collar and bolt connection (19), that
preferably contains filler (18) inside.
5. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that tower (2) and/or foot (4) and/or column (3) and/or bars (11) are made of metal plates
of limited resistance to plastic deformation of at least 690 Mpa
6. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that column (3) on foot (4) and/or tower (2) on column (3) and or tower (2) on foot (4)
is mounted rotationally by means of slide bearing
7. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that lifting unit (6) is equipped with at least one pair of winches (14), from which pair
winching ropes (21) of lifting unit (6) are wound on one winch (14), and drawing ropes
(21) of lifting unit (6) are wound on the other winch (14)
8. The mobile built-up folding crane according to claim 7, characterised in that the number of winch (14) pairs is multiplied
9. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that boom modules (8) in cross-section have the shape of a triangle or rectangle through
the top of which stringers (10) run
10. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that bars (11) placed against stringers (10) at a 90-degrees and/or 45-degrees and/or
30-degrees and/or 60-degrees angle.
11. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that cross-section of the stringer (10) has the shape of a triangle or rectangle or pentagon
or hexagon or octagon or circle, and preferably is reinforced inside
12. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that stringer (10) is made of metal plates in the shape of squares, preferably rectangular
ones
13. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that stringer (10) is made of metal plates in the shape of a channel, preferably rectangular
one, and at least one metal plate in the shape of one flat bar, or is made of two
metal plates in the shape of channels
14. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that stringer (10) is made of metal plates in the shape of flat bars
15. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that stringer (10) is made of metal plates in the shape of channel and T-bar
16. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that stringer (10) is made of several metal plates in the shape of T-bars and flat bars
17. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that there are least 3 envelope-like spaced holes (13) in the collar connection, wherein
their distribution is preferably even
18. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that conical tower (2) is significantly lower than the position of top (7) of any boom
(1) set in its maximum vertical position, and at most equal to the position of the
higher placed top (7) of any of booms (1) in their lower position.
19. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that any collar connection is tight, and stringers (10) and bars (11) are closed
20. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that side of stringer (10) in cross-section is of dimension at least 150mm, preferably
at least 250mm, and at best at least 600mm
21. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 20, characterised in that bar (11) in cross-section is of dimension at least 150mm, preferably at least 200mm,
and at best at least 250mm
22. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that boom module (8) in cross-section is of dimension at least 1.5 m, preferably at least
3mm, and at best at least 4.5m.
23. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 22, characterised in that boom module (8) in cross-section is 25m long at most, preferably less than 12.5m
24. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 23, characterised in that overall length of boom (1) is greater than 50 m, preferably greater than 100m
25. The mobile built-up folding crane according to any of claims 1 to 24, characterised in that mobile foundation (5) is that of a vessel deck or wheeled vehicle or rail vehicle