Marine knuckle boom crane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11155447-B2
Application number	US-201916730068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2019
Priority date	Jul 16, 2012
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A marine knuckle boom crane includes a crane housing which is rotational relative to a pedestal about a vertical rotation axis and a knuckle boom assembly attached to the crane housing. The knuckle boom assembly includes a main boom, the inner end of which is connected pivotably about a first horizontal pivot axis to the crane housing; and a jib, the inner end of which is connected pivotably about a second horizontal pivot axis to the outer end of the main boom, wherein the jib is pivotable at least between an extended position in which the tip extends mainly forward from the main boom, and a folded position in which the jib is folded back, essentially parallel along the main boom. In order to position the jib with respect to the main boom, a tensioning member is provided extending between the crane housing and a guide structure connected to the jib.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A marine knuckle boom crane comprising:
a pedestal and a crane housing being rotational relative to the pedestal about a vertical rotation axis;
a main boom comprising an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of which is connected pivotably about a first horizontal pivot axis to the crane housing;
a luffing assembly configured to position the main boom;
a jib comprising an inner end and a tip opposite the inner end of the jib, the inner end of the jib being connected pivotably about a second horizontal pivot axis to the outer end of the main boom;
a guide structure mounted to the jib and pivotable together with the jib about the second pivot axis, the guide structure comprising:
a first spoke including a reflex angle with the jib, the first spoke having a distal end extending towards an entry point of the guide structure;
a second intermediate spoke; and
a third spoke having a distal end extending towards a connection point of the guide structure, wherein the spokes have fixed angular positions relative to one another;

a connecting beam between the connection point of the guide structure and the tip of the jib;
a jib pivoting winch configured to pivot the jib; and
a tensioning member extending from the jib pivoting winch to the connection point of the guide structure,
wherein the jib is pivotable at least between a folded position and an extended position,
wherein in the folded position the jib is folded back towards the main boom, and the tensioning member is guided by the guide structure from the entry point to the connection point, and
wherein in the extended position the tip of the jib extends mainly forward from the main boom, and the tensioning member is guided over part of the guide structure to the connection point of the guide structure, such that the entry point of the guide structure is a free end which has pivoted to a front side of the main boom opposite the connection point of the guide structure.

2. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 1 , wherein a yang is provided between the main boom and the jib to position and/or fixate the position of the jib with respect to the main boom.

3. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 2 , wherein the tensioning member extends between an upper portion of the crane housing and the guide structure.

4. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 2 , wherein the tensioning member comprises a first portion being guided by the guide structure and a second portion of the which the length may be varied by the jib pivoting winch.

5. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 2 , further comprising a hoist assembly, comprising a hoist winch and a hoisting cable, extending from the winch via sheaves over the tip of the jib to a load suspension device.

6. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member extends between an upper portion of the crane housing and the guide structure.

7. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 6 , wherein the tensioning member comprises a first portion being guided by the guide structure and a second portion of the which the length may be varied by the jib pivoting winch.

8. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 6 , further comprising a hoist assembly, comprising a hoist winch and a hoisting cable, extending from the winch via sheaves over the tip of the jib to a load suspension device.

9. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member comprises a first portion being guided by the guide structure and a second portion of the which the length may be varied by the jib pivoting winch.

10. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 1 , further comprising a hoist assembly, comprising a hoist winch and a hoisting cable, extending from the winch via sheaves over the tip of the jib to a load suspension device.

11. The marine knuckle boom crane according to claim 1 , wherein in the extended position, the entry point of the guide structure, as the free end, extends beyond the main boom to the front side of the main boom while the connection point of the guide structure remains on a rear side of the main boom that is opposite to the front side of the main boom, such that the main boom is positioned between the entry point of the guide structure and the connection point of the guide structure.

12. A marine knuckle boom crane comprising:
a pedestal and a crane housing being rotational relative to the pedestal about a vertical rotation axis;
a main boom comprising an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of which is connected pivotably about a first horizontal pivot axis to the crane housing;
a luffing assembly configured to position the main boom;
a jib comprising an inner end and a tip opposite the inner end of the jib, the inner end of the jib being connected pivotably about a second horizontal pivot axis to the outer end of the main boom;
a guide structure mounted to the jib and pivotable together with the jib about the second pivot axis, the guide structure comprising:
a first spoke including a reflex angle with the jib, the first spoke having a distal end extending towards an entry point of the guide structure;
a second intermediate spoke; and
a third spoke having a distal end extending towards a connection point of the guide structure, wherein the spokes have fixed angular positions relative to one another;

a connecting beam between the connection point of the guide structure and the tip of the jib;
a jib pivoting winch configured to pivot the jib;
a tensioning member extending from the jib pivoting winch to the connection point of the guide structure; and
a vang provided between the main boom and the jib to position and/or fixate the position of the jib with respect to the main boom,
wherein the jib is pivotable at least between a folded position and an extended position,
wherein in the folded position the jib is folded back towards the main boom and the yang fixates the position of the jib with respect to the boom, and the tensioning member is guided by the guide structure from the entry point to the connection point, and
wherein in the extended position the tip of the jib extends mainly forward from the main boom, and the tensioning member is guided over part of the guide structure to the connection point of the guide structure.

13. A marine knuckle boom crane comprising:
a pedestal and a crane housing being rotational relative to the pedestal about a vertical rotation axis;
a main boom comprising an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of which is connected pivotably about a first horizontal pivot axis to a lower part of the crane housing; and
a luffing assembly configured to position the main boom, the luffing assembly comprising a luffing cable extending from an upper part of the crane housing to the tip of the main boom;
a jib comprising an inner end and a tip opposite the inner end of the jib, the inner end of the jib being connected pivotably about a second horizontal pivot axis to the outer end of the main boom;
a hoist assembly, comprising a hoist winch and a hoisting cable, the housing cable extending from the hoist winch via sheaves provided at a lower part of the crane housing and over sheaves provided at the tip of the jib to a load suspension device;
a guide structure mounted to the jib and pivotable together with the jib about the second pivot axis, the guide structure comprising:
a first spoke including a reflex angle with the jib, the first spoke having a distal end extending towards an entry point of the guide structure;
a second intermediate spoke; and
a third spoke

Assignees

• Itrec Bv

Inventors

• Roodenburg Joop
• Weterings Hendrikus Jacobus

Classifications

• B66C23/54

  with pneumatic or hydraulic motors, e.g. for actuating jib-cranes on tractors · CPC title

• B63B27/10

  of cranes · CPC title

• B66C23/82

  Luffing gear · CPC title

• B66C23/66

  Outer or upper end constructions · CPC title

• B66C23/64

  Jibs · CPC title