Crane drive method for selecting and applying a preferential load curve according to the inclination of a jib structural element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11999598-B2
Application number	US-202217858973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2022
Priority date	Jul 6, 2021
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A crane drive method is provided for selecting and applying a preferential load curve adapted to a work configuration of a crane having a mast supporting a luffing jib including at least one jib structural element. The method includes an inclination measurement step implementing a measurement of an actual inclination of the jib structural element with respect to a reference axis in the work configuration, a selection step implementing an automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclination of the jib structural element, the preferential load curve selected from among a plurality of load curves stored in a memory and calculated beforehand for several inclinations of the jib structural element, and a drive step implementing an application of the preferential load curve for maneuvers of lifting and moving a load along the luffing jib in the work configuration of the crane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A crane drive method for selecting and applying a preferential load curve adapted to a work configuration of a crane, said crane comprising a mast supporting a luffing jib comprising at least one jib structural element, said crane drive method implementing the following steps:
an inclination measurement step implementing a measurement of an actual inclination of the jib structural element with respect to a reference axis in the work configuration, by means of an inclinometer mounted on said jib structural element;
a selection step implementing an automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclination of said jib structural element, said preferential load curve being selected from among a plurality of load curves stored in a memory and calculated beforehand for several inclinations of said jib structural element;
a drive step implementing an application of said preferential load curve for maneuvers of lifting and moving a load along the luffing jib in the work configuration of the crane.

2. The crane drive method according to claim 1 , wherein the luffing jib is foldable and comprises at least two jib structural elements articulated with each other, and wherein:
the inclination measurement step implements a measurement of the actual inclinations of the two jib structural elements with respect to the reference axis in the work configuration, by means of inclinometers mounted on said two jib structural elements; and
the selection step implements the automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclinations of said two jib structural elements, said preferential load curve being selected from among the plurality of load curves calculated beforehand for several inclinations of said two jib structural elements.

3. The crane drive method according to claim 2 , wherein the two jib structural elements comprise a first jib structural element, forming a jib foot, which is articulated on the mast, and a second jib structural element articulated on the first jib structural element.

4. The crane drive method according to claim 3 , wherein the luffing jib comprises a third jib structural element, forming a jib tip, which is articulated on the second jib structural element and which is movable between two positions comprising a stowed position in which the third jib structural element is folded and pulled towards the second jib structural element, and a deployed position in which the third structural element jib is unfolded and extends in alignment the second jib structural element,
wherein a position detection step implements a detection of the actual position of the third jib structural element among its two positions,
and wherein the selection step implements the automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclinations of said two jib structural elements and the actual position of the third jib structural element, said preferential load curve being selected from among the plurality of load curves calculated beforehand for several inclinations of said two jib structural elements and for the two positions of the third jib structural element.

5. The crane drive method according to claim 4 , wherein the position detection step is implemented by means of a detector selected from:
an inclinometer mounted on the third jib structural element, or
a position or proximity sensor which is mounted on the second jib structural element or on the third jib structural element to detect the presence/absence of the third jib structural element in one of the two positions.

6. The crane drive method according to claim 1 , comprising a height measurement step implementing a measurement of an actual height of the luffing jib with respect to a ground in the work configuration,
and wherein the selection step implements the automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclination of the jib structural element and the actual height of the luffing jib, said preferential load curve being selected from among the plurality of load curves calculated beforehand for several inclinations of said jib structural element and for several heights of the luffing jib.

7. The crane drive method according to claim 6 , wherein the mast is a telescopic mast comprising mast structural elements telescopically mounted, and the height measurement step is performed by means of a sensor which measures a telescoping level between the mast structural elements.

8. The crane drive method according to claim 1 , wherein the selection step is carried out by a control/command system, said control/command system being connected to the memory storing the plurality of load curves and to maneuvering actuators of the crane to perform the drive step.

9. A crane comprising a mast supporting a luffing jib comprising at least one jib structural element, said crane further comprising:
an inclinometer mounted on said jib structural element for a measurement of the actual inclination of the jib structural element with respect to a reference axis in a work configuration;
a control/command system connected to the inclinometer and to a memory storing a plurality of load curves calculated beforehand for several inclinations of said jib structural element;
wherein said control/command system is configured to carry out an automated selection of a preferential load curve according to the actual inclination of said jib structural element, said preferential load curve being selected from among the plurality of load curves stored in said memory; and
said control/command system is connected to maneuvering actuators and is configured to drive maneuvers of lifting and moving a load along the luffing jib in the work configuration of the crane, by applying said preferential load curve.

10. The crane according to claim 9 , wherein the luffing jib is foldable and comprises at least two jib structural elements articulated with each other and on which are mounted respective inclinometers for measuring the actual inclinations of the two jib structural elements with respect to the reference axis in the work configuration,
and wherein the control/command system is configured to carry out the automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclinations of said two jib structural elements, said preferential load curve being selected from among the plurality of load curves calculated beforehand for several inclinations of said two jib structural elements.

11. The crane according to claim 10 , wherein the two jib structural elements comprise a first jib structural element, forming a jib foot, which is articulated on the mast, and a second jib structural element articulated on the first jib structural element.

12. The crane according to claim 11 , wherein the luffing jib comprises a third jib structural element, forming a jib tip, which is articulated on the second jib structural element and which is movable between two positions comprising a stowed position in which the third jib structural element is folded and pulled towards the second jib structural element, and a deployed position in which the third structural element jib is unfolded and extends in alignment the second jib structural element,
wherein a detector is configured for a detection of an actual position of the third jib structural element among its two positions,
and wherein the control/command system is configured to carry out the automated selection of the preferential load curve according to the actual inclinations of said two jib structural elements and the actual position of the third jib structural element, said preferential load curve

Assignees

• Manitowoc Crane Group France

Inventors

• Larmonier Nicolas
• Lemire François

Classifications

• B66C23/342 Primary

  with telescopic elements · CPC title

• B66C13/16 Primary

  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

• B66C23/68 Primary

  foldable or otherwise adjustable in configuration · CPC title

• B66C13/22

  for electric drives (transmitting control pulses B66C13/40; systems or devices of general application H02P) · CPC title

• B66C23/905

  electrical · CPC title