Crane and related method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9868618-B2
Application number	US-201314406177-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2013
Priority date	Jun 7, 2012
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crane ( 101 ). The crane ( 101 ) has a hoist ( 113 ) for performing a lifting operation and a controller ( 125 ) for controlling operation of the crane. At least one sensor ( 127 ) is provided for detecting the presence of a person in a safety region ( 129 ). The controller ( 125 ) is configured to inhibit operation of the crane ( 127 ) when the sensor ( 127 ) detects a person in the safety region ( 129 ). The present invention also relates to a crane control system and a method of operating a crane ( 101 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A crane comprising:
a hoist for performing a lifting operation;
a controller for controlling operation of the crane; and
at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a person in a safety region;
wherein, when the at least one sensor detects a person in the safety region, the controller is configured to inhibit a lifting operation of the hoist and to enable a lowering operation of the hoist.

2. A crane as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is a camera.

3. A crane as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the camera is a thermal imaging camera.

4. A crane as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is a motion detection sensor.

5. A crane as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to inhibit said lifting operation by reducing the operating speed of the hoist; or stopping operation of the hoist.

6. A crane as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hoist is movable in at least one lateral direction and the controller is configured to inhibit lateral movement of the hoist when the at least one sensor detects a person in said safety region.

7. A crane as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to inhibit lateral movement of the hoist by reducing a travel speed of the hoist; or permitting only incremental lateral movements of the hoist.

8. A crane as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a load sensor for measuring an applied load.

9. A crane as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to inhibit an active lifting operation for a defined period of time following detection of an initial lifting operation.

10. A crane as claimed in claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to inhibit the hoist lifting operation by stopping operation of the hoist.

11. A crane as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a display for indicating the operational status of the crane.

12. A crane as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the display comprises at least a first indicator for indicating when said at least one sensor detects a person in said safety region.

13. A crane as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the display is configured to identify the person detected in said safety region.

14. A crane as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the display is mounted on the crane.

15. A crane as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a height sensor for monitoring a height of a coupling attached to the hoist for connection to a load.

16. A crane as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to inhibit operation of the crane when the height sensor detects that the coupling is below a pre-defined operating height.

17. A method of operating a crane comprising a hoist for performing a lifting operation and at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a person in a safety region;
wherein, when the at least one sensor detects a person in the safety region, the method comprises inhibiting a lifting operation of the hoist and enabling a lowering operation of the hoist.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising measuring an applied load; wherein the method comprises stopping a hoist lifting operation for a defined period of time following detection of an initial applied load.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising identifying a person detected in the safety region by determining the location of a portable safety unit associated with that person.

20. A crane control system for implementing a method as claimed in claim 17 .

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Ford Niall
• Conlon Andy
• Thatcher Daniel

Classifications

• B66C13/46

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

• F16P3/142

  using image capturing devices · CPC title

• B66C15/045 Primary

  electrical · CPC title

• B66C15/065

  electrical · CPC title