Traveling crane construction

Abstract

A traveling crane includes a rotatable carrier chassis which is rotatable on a wheeled truck. A twin jib is pivoted on the carrier chassis and it includes transversely spaced single jibs each having telescopic sections with the outer ends connected to a head piece on which is articulated a head jib. The head jib is foldable either back upon or under the twin jibs and fits in recesses defined in a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending head traverses which have receiving recesses for the head jib. Securing means extend between the single jibs and are provided for securing the head jib in a transport position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

This invention relates in general to the construction of cranes and, in particular, to a new and useful traveling crane which includes a twin jib with a head jib articulated to the outer end thereof and being foldable in a transport position in juxtaposition over or under a plurality of longitudinally spaced traverse heads which extend between the twin jib sections.

2. Description Of The Prior Art

So-called twin jib cranes can be used for much higher loads than cranes with a one-stem jib or signle jib, but they have the disadvantage that their constructions are such that they are not readily suitable for attachment of a head jib because the head traverse connecting the upper telescopic sections must receive the cable guide pulleys for the load cables. In those constructions in which a head jib is provided with a forked base in order to attach the traverse, the traverse must be removed for transporting the crane and it must be separately transported or carried along on the underside of the twin jib, similar to the constructions employed in traveling cranes with a single jib. With such a construction, however, it is only suitable for relatively light loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a traveling crane is provided with twin jibs and a head jib of relatively great carrying capacity which is attached to the outer ends thereof and which is arranged so that it may be juxtaposed with the twin jib construction and need not be transported separately despite its large dimensions. The invention comprises a twin jib crane in which the single jib sections are interconnected by transversely extending traverses which are provided with indentations or recesses between the single jib sections formed specifically to receive the head jib of the assembly which is folded into juxtaposition therewith during traveling. The construction may be made so that the head jib may be folded to overlie the traverses in their recesses and be accommodated so as to only project slightly above the separate jib sections of the twin jib crane or it may be made so that the head jib may be folded under the twin jib and received in the recesses of the traverses from below.

An advantage of the invention is that the head can be dimensioned much wider and constructed so that it can absorb a greater lateral force compared to the head jibs of traveling cranes with single jibs. In addition, a separate vehicle is not necessary for transporting the head jib alone since it may be accommodated in a folded position in juxtaposition with the twin jib sections nestled in a recess of the traverses. The construction is such that the two single jibs may be arranged very far apart if necessary, and even with their outer edges aligned at the lateral boundaries of the lower chassis of the traveling jib vehicle. Thus, a particularly great and statically favorable base width of the head jib on the head traverse is obtained. The fact that the head jib is arranged in the transport position, at least partly between the single jib sections of the twin jib, has the advantage that the head jib can be raised in a very short time without any auxiliary hoisting gear. It is irrelevant for the invention whether the head jib is merely turned about the ball and socket footing in the transport position at its connection to the head traverse of the twin jib, or it is detached from its connecting joint after it has been swung in and is displaced in a longitudinal direction in juxtaposition with the twin jib for transport.

It has been found particularly advantageous to make the distance between the known shields for the rope winches greater than was possible heretofore, and to arrange the head jib in a transport position so that at least a part of its length extends between the winch shields. For this construction, the cable winches and the respective gear parts are arranged so that they are made correspondingly low or high so that the head jib can be extremely long and the overall length of the traveling crane can be kept particularly low.

The openings for the head jib in the head traverse and the intermediate traverses which extend between the twin jib sections can be arranged, for example, in the center so that it is adapted to the cross-sectional form of the head jib and the vertical line through the longitudinal axis of the head jib coincides in the transport position with the vertical line through the longitudinal axis of the twin jib. Particularly in those cases where the lateral height of the head jib is greater than the lateral height of the twin jib, it is advisable to design the openings in the traverses as recesses which are open at the bottom and to support the head jib in a transport position substantially below the twin jib in the recesses or openings. With this latter construction, at least a part of the head jib cross-sectional height is accommodated in the recess between the single jibs. This has the advantage that the traveling crane, with the twin jib lowered and the head jib arranged between it, has a minimum overall height and that it preferably is not even higher than a traveling crane without a head jib.

In another embodiment of the invention, the intermediate traverses between the single jib sections of the twin jib form recesses which open at the top in order to accommodate the head jib therein which is folded back over the twin jib in the transport position. Such a design is of advantage when there is insufficient space under the twin jib boom when it is down to accommodate the head jib.

In order to provide means for securing the head jib in a simple manner against longitudinal displacement in the transport position, and in order to permit a rapid erection of the head jib in an operating position, it is advisable not to loosen the articulation or connection of the head jib through a ball and socket connection to the head secured to the twin jib but to maintain it for transportation also. When this is done, it is a simple matter to raise the head jib after arriving at the destination of use and to pivot the head jib on the head connection by suitable tackle in a known manner through the trestle articulated to the head of the twin jib at the connection of the ball and socket footing. In traveling cranes according to the invention which are used only is exceptional cases with head jibs, the permanent articulation of the head jib in the transport position will be foregone so that the head jib does not have to be detached from the twin jib when the latter is raised into the operating position. In these cases, it is advisable to arrange the head jib between the two single jibs of the twin jib for displacement in longitudinal direction so that it does not hinder the raising of the twin jib. In order to facilitate this displacement, it is of advantage to provide the head jib with known lateral sliding and/or rolling guides which correspond with suitably arranged means on the inner sides of the single jibs and/or of the intermediate traverses.

In order to avoid increasing of the height of the traveling crane in an undesirable manner by known trestles which are articulated to the jib head for raising and/or adjusting the main or head jib on the upper chassis, these trestles can be turned at least partly between the single jibs so that they are preferably articulated to this end between the single jibs on the upper chassis and the jib head respectively.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a traveling crane which includes a twin jib portion with twin jibs which are separated by one or more traverses which extend laterally therebetween and which is articulated through a head to a head jib at its outer ends and wherein the head jib may be folded into juxtaposition with the twin jib and received in recesses defined in the traverses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a traveling crane which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a traveling crane constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line VI--VI of FIG. 1, but without indicating the connection of the rocking cylinders;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line VIII--VIII of FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6-8, comprises a traveling crane which includes a wheel base or vehicle, generally designated 50 upon which is pivotally mounted a rotary upper chassis or rotary table 1. Supported on rotary table 1 are a plurality of transversely spaced winch shields 3 which form a part of a pivotal jib support 52 for supporting a jib assembly, generally designated 54. The jib assembly 54 comprises a twin jib section 2 made up of two spaced single jibs 2a and 2b which are together pivoted about a foot axle 4 arranged in winch shields 3 of base 52. The pivotal movement is carried out under the control of so-called rocking cylinders or motors 5, which are pivoted on bracket 5a of rotary chassis 1 and connected by a pivot 5b to twin jib section 2. The upper or outer ends of the telescopic sections 6 of single jibs 2a and 2b are connected with each other by means of a head traverse 16 while the identical lower or inner telescopic sections 7 and 8 are connected with each other by means of the intermediate traverses 17 and 18. The single jibs 2a and 2b are arranged at a lateral spacing or distance A from each other, which is slightly greater than the width a of a head jib 10 which is articulated to head 9 of twin jib 2 by means of a ball and socket joint or footing 11, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. In the center of head traverse 16 and intermediate traverses 17 and 18, there are provided recesses or openings 12 and 13 which open downwardly toward the bottom and provide a receiving recess for head jib 10 in the transport position. The construction is such that a verticle line through an imagined longitudinal axis of the head jib 10 coincides with an imagined vertical line through the longitudinal axis of twin jib 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments which are quite similar to FIG. 1 and similar parts have been similarly designated, but with the addition of primes in order to show that they are separate embodiments. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the traveling crane is also supported by a separate wheeled bogie 52' in addition to vehicle 50'.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the wheeled vehicle 50" is similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, but the head jib is carried above the twin jib 2 in suitable recesses in the traverse members, rather than underneath twin jib 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3 are similar in respect to the carrying of head jib 10 below twin jib 2 in the transport position. In each embodiment, there is a ball and socket footing 11, 11', 11" which is articulated to head 9, 9' and 9" of twin jibs 2, 2' and 2". In the embodiments of both FIGS. 1 and 3, the head jib 10, 10' is supported substantially below the jib 2, 2' in recesses 12 and 13 which are formed in the traverses. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-section of head jib 10 is accommodated between shields 3, 3 and 3,3 on the respective sides and it rests on a support or securing element 14. In the embodiment shown, the support 14 comprises roller bearings and similar roller bearings 15 are supplied at a forward traverse or upstanding bearing block 19 which is supported on vehicle 50. Roller bearings 14 are advantageously supported by the winch shields 3.

In order to avoid a construction in which the head jib 10 hinders the raising of the twin jib, head portion 20 of head jib 10 is so designed that it can be folded about a lockable pivot joint 21. Trestles 22 articulated to head 9 of the twin jib, as well as trestles 23 which are articulated to winch shields 3, as shown in FIG. 3, permit the raising and adjustment of head jib 10 in the operating position, and they can be swung between single jibs 2a and 2b so that the height of the traveling crane is limited to a minimum. The cable drums 26 and 27 and the respective driving elements are not represented in detail for reasons of drawing clarity and because they do not form an essential part of the invention. The same is also true in respect to the known tackles. Rope pulleys 28 and 29 are arranged on trestles 22 on head jib 10 and conventional cable pulleys 30 and 31 are arranged on head 9 of twin jib 2. A hydraulic cylinder 32 is employed for telescoping as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and it is arranged between the single jibs 2a and 2b.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, head jib 10" is not articulated to head 9" of twin jib 2, but is arranged with a substantial part of its cross-section between the two single jibs 2a and 2b of the twin jib on its top side. Holders 33 and 34 are carried on an intermediate traverse 18 and on lower intermediate traverse 25 secured on head jib 10" in its position. The ball and socket footing on head jib 10 carries a bore 11a in which the supporting pivot for the head jib is carried in the operating position of head 9 of twin jib 2.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A traveling crane, comprising a support base, an upper chassis rotatable on said support base, a twin jib pivoted adjacent its one end on said upper chassis and having two laterally spaced single jib portions each with a plurality of telescopic sections having outer ends opposite to the inner end of said twin jibs, said twin jibs being telescopically extensible in unison, head traverse means interconnecting said telescopic sections having a receiving head recess defined between said single jib portions, a head connected to the outer ends of said telescopic sections, and a head jib articulated to said head and being positionable in a collapsed transport position between said single jibs in said head receiving recess in substantially horizontal and parallel relationship, said head including a ball and socket mounting for said head jib, said head jib being connected to said ball and socket mounting in a collapsed transportable position in which it is received in the recess.

2. A traveling crane, according to claim 1, wherein the head receiving recess of said head traverse means opens upwardly, said head jib being arranged in a transport position over said twin jib.

3. A traveling crane, according to claim 1, wherein the recess of said head traverse means opens downwardly, said head jib being supported in the recess below said twin jib.

4. A traveling crane, according to claim 1, including upright shields arranged at spaced lateral locations on said upper rotatable chassis, said twin jib being pivoted on said shields and being arranged therebetween, said shields defining an open recess therebetween for accommodating said head jib.

5. A traveling crane, according to claim 1, wherein said head traverse means includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending traverse members each having an upwardly open receiving recess, said head jib being supported in the recess so that a substantial portion of its cross-section lies between said single jib portions.

6. A traveling crane, according to claim 1, including rolling guide means for defining a rolling surface for receiving said head jib located between said single jib portion.

7. A traveling crane, according to claim 1, including a trestle pivotally mounted above said upper chassis and being foldable to a position extending substantially horizontally between said single jib portions.