Modular counterweight carriage for cranes, in particular for large crane

1. A crane comprising:

a superstructure having at least one degree of freedom relative to a ground or a foundation structure;

a main boom hinged to the superstructure;

a derrick boom hinged to the superstructure and having a distal end; and

a total counterweight that is divided into

a counterweight carriage separate from the superstructure, said counterweight carriage supporting a first counterweight, and

an additional counterweight connected to the distal end of the derrick boom, wherein the first and additional counterweights are connected to one another and to the derrick boom so that the additional counterweight is activated before the counterweight carriage, and the additional counterweight remains on the ground initially.

2. The crane of claim 1 wherein the crane has a lifting capacity defined as a superlift weight, and requires a superlift counterweight to balance the superlift weight, wherein the total of the weight of the first counterweight and the weight of the additional counterweight equals the weight of the superlift counterweight.

3. The crane of claim 1 further comprising a crossbeam suspended from the distal end of the derrick boom, the counterweight carriage and the additional counterweight being connected to the crossbeam.

4. The crane of claim 3 wherein the counterweight carriage and the additional counterweight are connected to the crossbeam so that the additional counterweight is lifted before the counterweight carriage is activated.

5. The crane of claim 3 wherein the crossbeam is connected to the additional counterweight by a hydraulic cylinder.

6. The crane of claim 3 wherein the crossbeam is connected to the additional counterweight by a reeved cable.

7. The crane of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first counterweight and additional counterweight comprises a plurality of counterweights.

8. The crane of claim 3 , wherein the additional counterweight comprises two additional counterweight units suspended in tandem along the crossbeam.

9. The crane of claim 8 wherein the additional counterweight units are arranged at opposite ends of the crossbeam, with the counterweight carriage there between.

10. The crane of claim 1 wherein the counterweight carriage is equipped with a drive.

11. The crane of claim 10 wherein the counterweight carriage is equipped with crawlers.

12. The crane of claim 1 further comprising a traveling undercarriage which serves as the foundation structure, the superstructure being rotatable relative to the traveling undercarriage.

13. The crane of claim 12 wherein the travelling undercarriage is equipped with crawlers.

14. A crane comprising:

a superstructure with at least one degree of freedom with respect to a ground or a foundation structure of the crane;

at least one main boom;

at least one derrick boom; and

a separate superlift counterweight that is divided into a first counterweight and an additional counterweight, said first counterweight supported on a counterweight carriage, wherein the separate superlift counterweight is connected to a tip of the derrick boom and wherein the additional counterweight is activated before the counterweight carriage,

wherein the additional counterweight comprises a crossbeam suspended from a distal end of the derrick boom, and the counterweight carriage and the additional counterweight are connected to the crossbeam,

wherein the additional counterweight comprises a plurality of counterweight elements,

wherein the counterweight elements are suspended in tandem along the crossbeam, and

wherein the additional counterweight is divided in two parts and each is arranged at one of the opposite ends of the crossbeam, with the counterweight carriage located beneath them.

15. A crane comprising:

a superstructure having at least one degree of freedom relative to the ground or a foundation structure;

a main boom hinged to the superstructure;

a derrick boom hinged to the superstructure and having a distal end; and

a total counterweight that is divided into a counterweight carriage and additional counterweights, both separate from the superstructure, said counterweight carriage supporting a first counterweight, and

a crossbeam connected to the distal end of the derrick boom, wherein the first and additional counterweights are connected to one another through the crossbeam so that the additional counterweights are activated before the counterweight carriage.