BOOM DEVICE AND CONCRETE PUMP TRUCK

Abstract

 In one aspect of the invention, a boom apparatus includes at least a first boom, a second boom and a third boom sequentially connected to one another, wherein a root end of the first boom is connected to a turntable, some of the booms is a bent boom occupying at least two column spaces, and when the booms are in a folded state, the boom apparatus occupies at least three column spaces. The invention also provides a concrete pump vehicle having the boom apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201110322355.9, filed October 24, 2011, entitled "BOOM APPARATUS AND CONCRETE PUMP VEHICLE HAVING SAME", by Huihui Xie et al., the disclosures for which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of construction machinery, and more particularly to a boom apparatus, and a concrete pump vehicle having the boom apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A concrete pump vehicle is equipment that delivers concrete along a pipeline to a location required by construction works. In operation, the concrete pump vehicle needs to deliver concrete to a specified location through a delivery pipe fixed on a boom apparatus. As a delivery position changes, the boom apparatus needs to drive the delivery pipe to perform actions such as unfolding, folding, and rotating. Generally, the boom apparatus of a concrete pump vehicle includes multiple booms. The multiple booms may be foldable.

[0004] Folding of the boom currently used by a concrete pump vehicle mainly include an R type, a Z type, and an RZ type. The R type of folding can fully take advantage of the space in the vertical direction of the concrete pump vehicle. The Z type of folding can enable the boom apparatus to unfold in a small space. For a boom apparatus having multiple booms, the RZ type of folding is often used. For example, the first boom of the boom apparatus is hinge-connected to a turntable. The first boom, the second boom, and the third boom are folded to form an R-shaped boom; and the fourth boom and following boom sections are folded to form a Z-shaped boom.

[0005] As the pumping height of concrete increases, the whole length of the booms increases correspondingly. Currently, when the length of the booms needs to be increased, due to the limit of the overall length of the concrete pump vehicle, the length of a single boom cannot be increased unlimitedly. It is currently adapted that boom sections are directly added to the fourth boom, which can make the overall height of the booms increased, and however is not conducive to implementation of multiple boom sections such as six booms.

[0006] Meanwhile, when the working space of the concrete pump vehicle is small, increase of the length of the single boom makes it more difficult for unfolding and working.

[0007] Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A first objective of the invention is to provide a boom apparatus. The boom apparatus can arrange multiple booms in an effective folding space. A second objective of the invention is to provide a concrete pump vehicle including the boom apparatus.

[0009] In one aspect of the invention, a boom apparatus includes at least three booms, e.g., a first boom, a second booms and a third boom, sequentially connected to one another. A root end of the first boom is connected to a turntable. Some of the booms are a bent boom occupying at least two column spaces. When the booms are in a folded state, the boom apparatus occupies at least three column spaces.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first boom occupies a column space. When the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on the same side of a space occupied by the first boom.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first boom is a bent boom, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom are the same. When the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are all distributed on the same side of a bending direction of the first boom.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first boom is a bent boom, a root end straight boom segment of the first boom connected to the turntable occupies a column space. When the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on two sides of a space occupied by the root end straight boom segment of the first boom.

[0013] In one embodiment, the boom apparatus further includes at least a fourth booms, where each of the third boom and the fourth boom are a bent boom. When the booms are in the folded state, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom and the third boom are opposite to each other, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom and the fourth boom are the same, and the first boom, the second boom, and the third boom are folded into an R-shape.

[0014] In one embodiment, the boom apparatus further includes at least a fifth boom, where the second boom, the third boom, and the fourth boom are folded into an inverse-Z-shaped boom unit, and the third boom, the fourth boom, and the fifth boom are folded into an inverse-R-shape.

[0015] In one embodiment, the boom apparatus further includes at least a sixth boom, where the fourth boom, the fifth boom, and the sixth boom form a Z-shape.

[0016] In another embodiment, the boom apparatus further includes at least a sixth boom, where the fourth boom, the fifth boom, and the sixth boom form an R-shape.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention, a concrete pump vehicle includes a chassis and a boom apparatus disposed on the chassis. The boom apparatus is of any one of the aforementioned boom apparatus. Since the aforementioned boom apparatus has the aforementioned technical effects, the concrete pump vehicle having the boom apparatus should also have corresponding technical effects.

[0018] According to the one embodiment of the invention, the boom apparatus includes at least three sequentially connected booms, where a root end of the first boom is connected to a turntable, some of the booms are a bent boom occupying at least two column spaces, and when the booms are in the folded state, the boom apparatus occupies at least three column spaces.

[0019] When folded, the boom apparatus can be folded into at least three columns in parallel to be arranged on the concrete pump vehicle, so as to optimize arrangement of the boom sections, decrease a boom folding height of the concrete pump vehicle with multiple boom sections; compared with the prior art, with the total length of the whole boom apparatus remaining unchanged, the number of booms can be increased in a limited space, and the length of the single boom can be decreased, so as to decrease the overall length of the vehicle, and effectively decrease a minimal unfolding height of the boom apparatus, thereby facilitating smooth unfolding of the boom apparatus.

[0020] Preferably, the first boom is a bent boom, a root end straight boom segment of the first boom connected to the turntable occupies a column space, and when the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on two sides of a space occupied by the root end straight boom segment of the first boom.

[0021] The arrangement manner can fully take advantage of spaces on two sides of the first boom, that is, fully take advantage of the space in a width direction of the vehicle body, so as to facilitate compact arrangement of adjacent column booms, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the transverse space of the vehicle, and facilitating arrangement of more column booms.

[0022] According to the another embodiment of the invention, the boom apparatus includes at least four booms, where each of the third boom and the fourth boom are a bent boom; when the booms are in the folded state, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom and the third boom are opposite to each other, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom and the fourth boom are the same, and the first boom, the second boom, and the third boom are folded into an R-shape. The length of the corresponding boom can be increased by reasonably setting positions of the bent segments of the first boom and the third boom and a column position where a telescopic cylinder is.

[0023] These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a boom apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view showing that first three booms of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are folded.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view showing that first three booms of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are unfolded.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view showing that the second boom, the third boom, and the fourth boom of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are folded.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view showing that the second boom, the third boom, and the fourth boom shown in FIG. 6 are unfolded.

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural view showing that the third boom, the fourth boom, and the fifth boom of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are folded.

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural view showing that the third boom, the fourth boom, and the fifth boom shown in FIG. 8 are unfolded.

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural view showing that a fourth boom, the fifth boom, and the sixth boom of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are folded.

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural view showing that the fourth boom, the fifth boom, and the sixth boom shown in FIG. 10 are unfolded.

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural view showing that booms of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are unfolded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0026] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0027] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the invention.

[0028] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," or "includes" and/or "including" or "has" and/or "having" when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0029] Furthermore, relative terms, such as "lower" or "bottom", "upper" or "top," and "front" or "back" may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the "lower" side of other elements would then be oriented on "upper" sides of the other elements. The exemplary term "lower", can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of "lower" and "upper," depending of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above" the other elements. The exemplary terms "below" or "beneath" can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.

[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0031] As used herein, "around", "about" or "approximately" shall generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range. Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the term "around", "about" or "approximately" can be inferred if not expressly stated.

[0032] The description will be made as to the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 1-12. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a boom apparatus, and a concrete pump vehicle having the boom apparatus.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a specific embodiment of a boom apparatus according to the invention; and FIG. 2 is a front view of the boom apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the boom apparatus provided by the invention includes at least three sequentially connected booms. A root end of the first boom 1 is connected to a turntable. A telescopic cylinder is generally disposed between adjacent booms of the boom apparatus, one end of the telescopic cylinder is hinge-connected to a preceding boom, the other end of the telescopic cylinder is hinge-connected to a following boom, and the telescopic cylinder is used to drive the following boom to perform an unfolding or folding action. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the root end of the first boom 1 is hinge-connected to the turntable, and among two adjacent booms, the boom closer to the turntable is defined as the preceding boom, and the other boom is defined as the following boom.

[0035] Some booms of the boom apparatus are a bent boom occupying at least two column spaces. When the booms are in the folded state, the boom apparatus occupies at least three column spaces.

[0036] When folded, the boom apparatus can be folded into at least three columns in parallel to be arranged on the concrete pump vehicle, so as to optimize arrangement of the boom sections, decrease a boom folding height of the concrete pump vehicle with multiple boom sections, and fully take advantage of a transverse space of a vehicle body. Compared with the prior art, with the total length of the whole boom apparatus remaining unchanged, the number of booms can be increased in a limited vertical space, the length of the single boom can be decreased, the overall length of the vehicle can be decreased, and a minimal unfolding height of the boom apparatus can be effectively decreased, thereby facilitating smooth unfolding of the boom apparatus. On the other hand, when folded, the boom apparatus can be folded into at least three columns in parallel to be arranged on the concrete pump vehicle, so as to facilitate increase of the number of booms, thereby increasing the total length of the whole boom apparatus, and increasing a delivery height of the concrete pump vehicle.

[0037] In a specific embodiment, the first boom may occupy a column space. When the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on the same side of the space occupied by the first boom. The structure of the boom of the arrangement manner is simple, thereby facilitating reduction in machining of the boom.

[0038] It is well known that weights of the booms of the concrete pump vehicle are different. The weight of the first boom 1, namely the basic boom, is the heaviest, so that the telescopic cylinder for raising the first boom 1 is correspondingly larger in size and heavier in weight, and occupies a larger space. Therefore, the first boom 1 may be set to be a bent boom.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the first boom 1 is set to be a bent boom occupying at least two column spaces. It is arranged that bending directions of bent segments 12 of the first boom 1 are the same. When the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are all distributed on the same side of the bending direction of the first boom 1. In this way, for the boom apparatus having multiple booms, the telescopic cylinder occupying a larger space may be arranged below the first boom, so as to implement arrangement of multiple booms.

[0040] In another preferred embodiment, the first boom 1 is set to be a bent boom. The root end straight boom segment 11 of the first boom 1 connected to the turntable occupies a column space. When the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on two sides of the space occupied by the root end straight boom segment 11 of the first boom 1. Such an arrangement can fully take advantage of spaces on two sides of the first boom 1, that is, fully take advantage of the space in a width direction of the vehicle body, so as to facilitate compact arrangement of adjacent column booms, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the transverse space of the vehicle, and facilitating arrangement of more column booms.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the boom apparatus may include at least four booms. The third boom 3 and the fourth boom 4 may both be designed to be bent booms; and when the booms are in the folded state, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom 1 and the third boom 3 are opposite to each other, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom 1 and the fourth boom 4 are the same, and the first boom 1, the second boom 2, and the third boom 3 are folded into an R-shape. In this way, some straight boom segments of the third boom 3 and the fourth boom 4 are located on two sides of the space occupied by the root end straight boom segment 11 of the first boom 1. The aforementioned setting manner can increase the length of the corresponding boom by reasonably setting positions of the bent segments of the first boom 1 and the third boom 3 and the column position where the telescopic cylinder is.

[0042] The setting in this embodiment can effectively increase the length of the second boom 2 and the third boom 3, thereby facilitating increase of the overall boom length of the boom apparatus.

[0043] It should be noted that, the first boom 1 is a bent boom, and as shown in FIG. 1, the first boom 1 occupies at least two column spaces. The first boom 1 may include several straight boom segments not in a same straight line, the straight boom segment connected to the turntable is called the root end straight boom segment 11, which occupies a column space, and another straight boom segment connected to the root end straight boom segment 11 by the bent segment 12 occupies another column space. Therefore, a bent boom including a bent segment occupies two column spaces.

[0044] Based on the structure of the aforementioned boom apparatus, the boom apparatus may include at least five booms, where the second boom 2, the third boom 3, and the fourth boom 4 are folded into an inverse-Z-shaped boom unit, and the third boom 3, the fourth boom 4, and a fifth boom 5 are folded into an inverse-R-shaped boom unit. The details of folding of the first three booms are referred to FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 6, the second boom 2, the third boom 3, and the fourth boom 4 are folded into the inverse-Z-shaped boom unit. Referring to FIG. 8, the third boom 3, the fourth boom 4, and the fifth boom 5 are folded into the inverse-R-shaped boom unit. FIGS. 5, 7 and 9 show directions of relative movement during unfolding of the booms: V1 represents counterclockwise rotation, and V2 represents clockwise rotation.

[0045] Compared with the prior art where a sixth boom is directly arranged in a second column, the setting manner fully takes advantage of the transverse space of the concrete pump vehicle, facilitates arrangement of more than six booms, and can increase the length of following booms such as the sixth boom, so that the overall height is low, and the steadiness of the vehicle is high.

[0046] Further, when the Z-shaped boom unit is in the folded state, each boom is located on an upper side or a lower side of the preceding boom, so that the gap between adjacent booms can be effectively reduced, and the boom apparatus can be smoothly unfolded in a narrow space.

[0047] When the R-shaped boom unit is in the folded state, a boom is located between two adjacent preceding booms, and the booms, which are in the Z-shaped boom and follow the third boom 3 (also include the third boom 3), are disposed between the two adjacent preceding booms of the boom, so as to fully take advantage of the gap between the two preceding booms, so that with the total length of the whole boom apparatus remaining unchanged, the number of booms in the limited vertical space can be increased, so as to decrease the length of the single boom, and when the lengths of the booms except the first boom 1 are substantially the same, the minimal unfolding height of the boom apparatus can be effectively decreased, so as to smoothly unfold the boom apparatus in a narrow space. Please refer to FIGS. 10-12 for the details of a manner in which the sixth boom is arranged on the boom apparatus.

[0048] Further, the boom apparatus may include a sixth boom 6, such that the fourth boom 4, the fifth boom 5, and the sixth boom 6 form a Z-shaped boom unit, so as to arrange as many as possible booms in the effective space.

[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, the boom apparatus may include at least six booms. The first boom 1, the second boom 2, and the third boom 3 are folded into an R-shaped boom unit. The second boom 2, the third boom 3, and the fourth boom 4 are folded into an inverse-Z-shaped boom unit. The third boom 3, the fourth boom 4, and the fifth boom 5 are folded into an R-shaped boom unit. The fourth boom 4, the fifth boom 5, and the sixth boom 6 are folded into an R-shape.

[0050] IN another exemplary embodiment, the boom apparatus includes at least six booms; the fourth boom 4 and the fifth boom 5 may each be a bent boom. The first boom 1, the second boom 2, and the third boom 3 are folded into a Z-shaped boom unit. The third boom 3, the fourth boom 4, and the fifth boom 5 are folded into an inverse-Z-shaped boom unit. The fourth boom 4, the fifth boom 5, and the sixth boom 6 are folded into an R-shaped boom unit; this manner further increases the number of boom columns, and fully takes advantage of the transverse space of the vehicle.

[0051] In one embodiment, the boom apparatus may include at least five booms. The first boom 1, the third boom 3, and the fifth boom 5 each are a bent boom. When the booms are in the folded state, the first boom 1, the second boom 2, and the third boom 3 are folded into an R-shape. Bending directions of a bent segment of the first boom 1 and a bent segment of the third boom 3 are opposite to each other, and bending directions of the bent segment of the first boom 1 and a bent segment of the fifth boom 5 are the same. When the boom apparatus is in the folded state, any three sequentially connected booms are folded into an R-shape; the folding manner is compact, and improves steadiness of the vehicle.

[0052] Preferably, the sixth boom 6 may also be set as a bent boom, a seventh boom may be further added on an outer side of the sixth boom 6, and the seventh boom may be disposed on an upper side or a lower side of the sixth boom 6.

[0053] The invention further provides a concrete pump vehicle that includes a chassis and a boom apparatus disposed on the chassis. The boom apparatus is the boom apparatus in any one of the aforementioned embodiments. The concrete pump vehicle has the aforementioned boom apparatus, and since the aforementioned boom apparatus has the aforementioned technical effects, the concrete pump vehicle having the boom apparatus should also have corresponding technical effects.

[0054] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

[0055] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.

Claims

1. A boom apparatus, comprising:

at least a first boom, a second boom and a third boom sequentially connected to one another,

wherein a root end of the first boom (1) is connected to a turntable, some of the booms is a bent boom occupying at least two column spaces, and when the booms are in a folded state, the boom apparatus occupies at least three column spaces.

2. The boom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first boom occupies a column space, and when the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on the same side of the first boom (1).

3. The boom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first boom (1) is a bent boom, bending directions (12) of bent segments of the first boom are the same, and when the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are all located on the same side of a bending direction of the first boom (1).

4. The boom apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first boom (1) is a bent boom, a root end straight boom segment (11) of the first boom (1) connected to the turntable occupies a column space, and when the booms are in the folded state, the other columns of the boom apparatus are located on two sides of a space occupied by the root end straight boom segment (11) of the first boom (1).

5. The boom apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising at least a fourth boom, wherein each of the third boom (3) and the fourth boom (4) is a bent boom, and when the booms are in the folded state, bending directions of bent segments of the first boom (1) and the third boom (3) are opposite to each other, the bending directions of bent segments of the first boom (1) and the fourth boom (4) are the same, and the first boom (1), the second boom (2), and the third boom (3) are folded into an R-shape.

6. The boom apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising at least a fourth boom and a fifth boom, wherein the second boom (2), the third boom (3), and the fourth boom (4) are folded into an inverse-Z-shaped boom unit, and the third boom (3), the fourth boom (4), and the fifth boom (5) are folded into an inverse-R-shape.

7. The boom apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising at least a sixth boom, wherein the fourth boom (4), the fifth boom (5), and the sixth boom (6) form a Z-shape.

8. The boom apparatus according to claim 6, comprising at least a sixth boom, wherein the fourth boom (4), the fifth boom (5), and the sixth boom (6) are folded into an R-shape.

9. A concrete pump vehicle, comprising:

a chassis; and

a boom apparatus disposed on the chassis, wherein the boom apparatus is the boom apparatus according to anyone of claims 1-8.

Drawing