Crane winch assembly stowage and mode detection system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11053100-B1
Application number	US-202017094251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2020
Priority date	Nov 10, 2020
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A system and method for detecting a configuration of a crane winch assembly and activating a mode of operation of an aerial device based at least in part on the configuration is shown and described herein. The aerial device may comprise a crane winch assembly with a sensor for detecting that the crane winch assembly is stowed or deployed. When the crane winch assembly is deployed, a crane mode of the aerial device may be active. When the crane winch assembly is stowed, an aerial mode of the aerial device may be active. Further, certain operations of the aerial device may be active and inactive based on an anti-two block system of the aerial device.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A crane mode detection system for detecting a configuration of a crane winch assembly and activating a mode of operation of an aerial device based at least in part on the detected configuration, comprising:
a winch pin for connecting a winch cable;
a sensor connected to the winch pin, said sensor configured to detect the connection of the winch cable and send a first signal indicative of the winch cable connection;
a controller configured to receive the first signal from the sensor and send a second signal to the aerial device; and
at least one actuator configured to receive the second signal and actuate an operation of the aerial device based on the second signal,
wherein the second signal is indicative of a mode of operation of the aerial device.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a spring surrounding the winch pin and disposed between a winch bracket and a winch pin nut, wherein the spring is in a compressed state when the winch is stowed.

3. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor,
wherein the proximity sensor detects a proximity of the winch pin, and
wherein the mode of operation is determined by the proximity of the winch pin to the proximity sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor is a switch,
wherein the switch is activated when at least one of the winch pin and a nut connected to the winch pin contact the switch, and
wherein the mode of operation is determined by a contact of the at least one of the winch pin and the nut with the switch.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one actuator actuates a hydraulic valve for operation of a spool when the sensor detects that the mode of operation is a crane mode.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein an anti-two block system is activated when the mode of operation is a crane mode.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein an anti-two block system is disabled when the mode of operation is not a crane mode.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mode of operation is a crane mode when the winch is not stowed.

9. A method of detecting a configuration of a crane winch assembly and activating a mode of operation of an aerial device based at least in part on the configuration, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a crane mode detection system comprising:
a winch pin for connecting a winch cable,
a sensor connected to the winch pin, and
a controller;

connecting the winch cable to the winch pin by a winch hook;
detecting, by the sensor, the connection of the winch cable by the winch hook and sending a first signal indicative of the winch hook connection;
receiving, by the controller, the first signal from the sensor; and
sending, by the controller, a second signal that changes a mode of operation from a crane mode to an aerial mode.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the aerial mode is at least one of a material handler mode, a digger derrick mode, a tree felling mode, and a utility platform mode.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
detecting contact of the winch hook to a lower block of an anti-two block system; and
deactivating at least one operation of an aerial device based on the contact.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one operation of the aerial device is at least one of a winch raise, a boom lower, a boom extend, and a boom rotate.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of actuating at least one actuator based on the second signal, wherein the at least one actuator actuates a hydraulic valve closed when the sensor detects that the mode of operation is a crane mode.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising activating an anti-two block system when the mode of operation is a crane mode.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disabling an anti-two block system when the mode of operation is not a crane mode.

16. A crane mode detection system for detecting a configuration of a crane winch assembly and activating a mode of operation of an aerial device based at least in part on the detected configuration, comprising:
a winch pin for connecting to a winch hook;
a bracket connected to the winch pin and configured to connect to a boom of the aerial device;
a spring disposed in the bracket and configured to compress when the winch hook is connected to the winch pin, said winch hook being connected to a winch cable;
a sensor connected to the winch pin for detecting movement of the winch pin when the winch cable is retracted and the spring is compressed, and sending a first signal indicative of the movement of the winch pin,
wherein the winch hook is configured to support a load at a distal end of the boom when the winch hook is not connected to the winch pin; and
a controller for receiving the first signal from the sensor and sending a second signal to the aerial device,
wherein a mode of operation of the aerial device is changed based on the second signal.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising: at least one actuator configured to receive the second signal and actuate an operation of the aerial device based on the second signal.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:
an anti-two block system comprising:
a lower block;
an upper block;
at least one cable connecting the upper block and the lower block; and
an anti-two block sensor associated with the upper block;

wherein at least one operation of the aerial device is deactivated based on detection of the winch hook in proximity to the lower block, and
wherein the at least one operation of the aerial device is at least one of a winch raise operation, a boom lower operation, a boom extend operation, and a boom rotate operation.

19. The system of claim 18 ,
wherein the anti-two block system is activated when the mode of operation is a crane mode, and
wherein the anti-two block system is disabled when the mode of operation is not the crane mode.

20. The system claim 16 , wherein the mode of operation is at least one of a crane mode, a material handler mode, a digger derrick mode, a tree felling mode, and a utility platform mode.

Assignees

• Altec Ind Inc

Inventors

• O'Brien Shawn D

Classifications

• B66D1/56

  Adaptations of limit switches · CPC title

• B66C13/18

  Control systems or devices (exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40) · CPC title

• B66C13/50 Primary

  Applications of limit circuits or of limit-switch arrangements (for winding mechanisms B66D1/56) · CPC title

• B66C13/46

  Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements · CPC title