Lifting crane with a system for automated determination of the reeving

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11753284-B2
Application number	US-202017104643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2020
Priority date	Nov 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A lifting crane having a jib and a lifting device with double reeving configured to distribute and lift a load along the jib, wherein the lifting device is reversibly configurable between two reeving configurations including a single reeving configuration with two lifting strands and a double reeving configuration with four lifting strands. The lifting device includes a reeving change system for performing a reeving change between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving configuration, and vice versa. The lifting crane further includes a system for automated determination of the reeving configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lifting crane comprising:
a jib;
a lifting device with double reeving configured to distribute and lift a load along the jib, wherein the lifting device is reversibly configurable between two reeving configurations including a single reeving configuration with two lifting strands and a double reeving configuration with four lifting strands, the lifting device comprising a reeving change system for performing a reeving change between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving configuration, and vice versa; and
a system for automated determination of the reeving configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving configuration,
wherein the lifting device further comprises a distributing trolley comprising a structure suspended on the jib and connected to a distribution system configured for displacing the distributing trolley along the jib in a forward direction and a rearward direction which are opposite to each other, and a main block suspended from the suspended structure by a lifting cable,
wherein the reeving change system comprises a secondary block and a locking/unlocking mechanism cooperating with the main block and the secondary block to pass from the single reeving configuration to the double reeving configuration or vice versa, and
wherein the system for automated determination of the reeving comprises at least:
a system for detecting the presence of the secondary block configured to detect a presence and/or absence of the secondary block at a predetermined reference location occupied by the secondary block in either of the reeving configurations; and
a monitoring/control unit connected to the system for detecting the presence of the secondary block and configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration depending on the detection of the absence and/or presence of the secondary block at the reference location,
wherein the reeving change system passes the lifting device from the single reeving configuration to the double reeving configuration, and vice versa, by displacing the distributing trolley with the main block thereof, and the monitoring/control unit is connected to the distribution system to drive the displacement of the distributing trolley according to:
a first automated sequence passing the lifting device from the single reeving configuration to the double reeving configuration, and vice versa; and
a second automated sequence passing the lifting device from the double reeving configuration to the single reeving configuration,
depending on the reeving configuration which is automatically determined by the monitoring/control unit, and
wherein the lifting crane further comprises a lifting winch provided with a lifting drum cooperating with the lifting cable to displace the load upward and downward, the lifting winch equipped with an unwinding sensor for measuring an unwound length of the lifting cable, wherein the monitoring/control unit is configured to compare the unwound lengths of the lifting cable at the beginning of the first automated sequence and at the beginning of the second automated sequence which follows or precedes the first automated sequence.

2. The lifting crane according to claim 1 , wherein:
the system for automated determination of the reeving comprises a storage module connected to the monitoring/control unit for storing at least one last reeving configuration determined by the monitoring/control unit, and
the monitoring/control unit is configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration also depending on the last reeving configuration stored in the storage module.

3. The lifting crane according to claim 1 , wherein:
in the single reeving configuration, the locking/unlocking mechanism unlocks the secondary block which remains positioned inside a block housing provided on the main block such that the lifting cable cooperates with the main block for a two-strand lifting, and
in the double reeving configuration, the locking/unlocking mechanism locks the secondary block on the distributing trolley at a location above the main block such that the lifting cable cooperates with both the main block and the secondary block for a four-strand lifting.

4. The lifting crane according to claim 3 , wherein the system for detecting the presence of the secondary block is configured to detect the presence and/or absence of the secondary block inside the block housing occupied by the secondary block in the single reeving configuration and/or at the location above the main block occupied by the secondary block in the double reeving configuration.

5. The lifting crane according to claim 3 , wherein:
the reeving change system comprises a remaining trolley comprising a frame suspended on the jib and supporting the secondary block, wherein:
in the double reeving configuration, the locking/unlocking mechanism locks together the distributing trolley and the remaining trolley which are assembled and displaceable in association along the jib, and the secondary block is suspended on the remaining trolley at the location above the main block, and
in the single reeving configuration, the locking/unlocking mechanism unlocks the remaining trolley, such that the distributing trolley and the remaining trolley are disassembled, the secondary block is housed inside the block housing provided on the main block and the distributing trolley is displaceable on its own while the remaining trolley is statically positioned with the secondary block at a storage location, and
the system for detecting the presence of the secondary block is configured to detect a presence and/or absence of the remaining trolley at the storage location.

6. The lifting crane according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring/control unit is configured to enable:
the first automated sequence at least on condition that the monitoring/control unit has determined that the lifting device is in single reeving configuration; and
the second automated sequence at least on condition that the monitoring/control unit has determined that the lifting device is in double reeving configuration.

7. The lifting crane according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring/control unit is configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration also depending on the comparison between the unwound lengths of the lifting cable at the beginning of the first automated sequence and at the beginning of the second automated sequence which follows or precedes the first automated sequence.

8. The lifting crane according to claim 1 , comprising a load sensor coupled to a lifting strand of the lifting cable for measuring a lifting tension on the lifting strand, wherein the monitoring/control unit is connected to the load sensor and is configured to calculate a value of the load depending on the lifting tension on the lifting strand and on the reeving configuration which is automatically determined by the monitoring/control unit.

9. The lifting crane according to claim 8 , wherein the monitoring/control unit is configured to compare the value of the load with a maximum authorized load.

10. A driving method for driving a lifting crane, the lifting crane comprising:
a jib;
a lifting device with double reeving configured to distribute and lift a load along the jib, wherein the lifting device is reversibly configurable between two reeving configurations including a single reeving configuration with two lifting strands and a double reeving configuration with four lifting strands, the lifting device comprising a reeving change system for performing a reeving change between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving c

Assignees

• Manitowoc Crane Group France

Inventors

• Roni-Damond Bruno
• Lemire François
• Gollion Olivier

Classifications

• B66D3/043 Primary

  Block and tackle system with variable number of cable parts · CPC title

• B66C23/905

  electrical · CPC title

• B66C23/26

  for use on building sites; constructed, e.g. with separable parts, to facilitate rapid assembly or dismantling, for operation at successively higher levels, for transport by road or rail (with supporting couples provided by walls or buildings B66C23/20; mounted on vehicles B66C23/36; jib constructions B66C23/64) · CPC title

• B66C13/16

  Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices (in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08) · CPC title

• B66C23/022

  Pivot axis common with column · CPC title