IP Library Granted Patent US 8,573,420
Granted Patent B2
US 8,573,420 · App. 12/922,262 · Granted Nov 5, 2013

Crawler crane and method for fine-tuning a basic operating position of such a crawler crane

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,573,420
App. No.
12/922,262
Granted
Nov 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a crawler crane comprising two crawler supports ( 9 ) with rotating crawlers ( 8 ). Both crawler supports ( 9 ) are connected by a transversal bridge ( 10 ). A superstructure ( 3 ) of the crawler crane comprises at least one crane jib that can pivot about a vertical axis and is connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ). A pivotable articulation connects the transversal bridge ( 19 ) in a pivotable manner to the crane superstructure ( 3 ). At least one of the crawler supports ( 9 ) is connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) by means of a double link ( 11 ). A lower link ( 12 ) of the double link ( 11 ) is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) by means of a crawler support lower pivotable axis ( 13 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) by means of a transversal bridge lower pivotable axis ( 14 ). An upper link ( 15 ) of the double link ( 11 ) is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) by means of a crawler support upper pivotable axis ( 16 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) by means of a transversal bridge upper pivotable axis ( 17 ). A drive ( 20 ), in particular motorised drive, is used to pivot at least one of the two links ( 12, 15 ) about the pivotable axis ( 13 ) associated therewith, the result being a level-controllable crawler crane, in which the expenditure for adjusting a base-work position is reduced.

Claims (46)

1. A crawler crane ( 1 ) comprising:

two crawler supports ( 9 ) having rotating crawlers ( 8 ),

at least one transversal bridge ( 10 ) connecting the two crawler supports ( 9 ), wherein the at least one transversal bridge ( 10 ) comprises a transversal-bridge plane ( 38 ),

a crane structure ( 3 ) having at least one crane boom ( 4 , 5 ) connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) so as to be able to pivot about a vertical axis ( 7 ),

a pivot articulation ( 6 ) that pivotally connects the transversal bridge ( 10 ) to the crane structure ( 3 ),

wherein at least one of the crawler supports ( 9 ) is connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a double link ( 11 ) comprising:

a lower link ( 12 ) that is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) via a crawler support lower pivot shaft ( 13 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a transversal bridge lower pivot shaft ( 14 ),

an upper link ( 15 ) that is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) via a crawler support upper pivot shaft ( 16 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a transversal bridge upper pivot shaft ( 17 ), and

an adjustment drive ( 20 ) for pivotally displacing at least one of the two links ( 12 , 15 ) about at least one of the pivot shafts with which said link is articulated to the crawler support ( 9 ) and the transversal bridge ( 10 ),

wherein said double link ( 11 ) enables compensation of a roll inclination about an axis longitudinal to a driving direction defined by the two crawler supports ( 9 ), such that the roll inclination is provided between a foot print plane ( 18 ) of the crawler support ( 9 ) and the transversal-bridge plane ( 38 ), wherein the crane structure ( 3 ) has no roll inclination relative to the transversal-bridge plane ( 38 ),

wherein the adjustment drive ( 20 ) has a reduction gear,

wherein the adjustment drive ( 20 ) has a threaded rod ( 22 ) connected to the crawler support ( 9 ) and a nut ( 24 ) connected to the driven lower link ( 12 ), the nut being complementary to the thread of the threaded rod ( 22 ),

wherein the threaded rod ( 22 ) has a trapezoidal external thread and the nut ( 24 ) has a trapezoidal internal thread complementary thereto,

wherein the nut ( 24 ) is connected to the lower link ( 12 ) in a manner so as to be unable to rotate relative to the crawler support ( 9 ) by means of connecting pieces ( 25 ), wherein the connecting pieces ( 25 ) define a parallel key guidance for the nut ( 24 ).

2. A crawler crane ( 1 ) comprising:

two crawler supports ( 9 ) having rotating crawlers ( 8 ),

at least one transversal bridge ( 10 ) connecting the two crawler supports ( 9 ), wherein the at least one transversal bridge ( 10 ) comprises a transversal-bridge plane ( 38 )

a crane structure ( 3 ) having at least one crane boom ( 4 , 5 ) connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) so as to be able to pivot about a vertical axis ( 7 ),

a pivot articulation ( 6 ) that pivotally connects the transversal bridge ( 10 ) to the crane structure ( 3 ),

wherein at least one of the crawler supports ( 9 ) is connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a double link ( 11 ) comprising:

a lower link ( 12 ) that is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) via a crawler support lower pivot shaft ( 13 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a transversal bridge lower pivot shaft ( 14 ),

an upper link ( 15 ) that is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) via a crawler support upper pivot shaft ( 16 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a transversal bridge upper pivot shaft ( 17 ), and

an adjustment drive ( 20 ) for pivotally displacing at least one of the two links ( 12 , 15 ) about at least one of the pivot shafts with which said link is articulated to the crawler support ( 9 ) and the transversal bridge ( 10 ),

wherein said double link ( 11 ) enables compensation of a roll inclination about an axis longitudinal to a driving direction defined by the two crawler supports ( 9 ), such that the roll inclination is provided between a foot print plane ( 18 ) of the crawler support ( 9 ) and the transversal-bridge plane ( 38 ), wherein the crane structure ( 3 ) has no roll inclination relative to the transversal-bridge plane ( 38 ),

wherein the adjustment drive ( 20 ) has a reduction gear,

wherein the adjustment drive ( 20 ) has a threaded rod ( 22 ) connected to the crawler support ( 9 ) and a nut ( 24 ) connected to the driven lower link ( 12 ), the nut being complementary to the thread of the threaded rod ( 22 ),

wherein the threaded rod ( 22 ) has a trapezoidal external thread and the nut ( 24 ) has a trapezoidal internal thread complementary thereto,

wherein the nut ( 24 ) is connected to a lever end ( 26 ) of the lower link ( 12 ), the lever end being located opposite the transversal-bridge lower pivot shaft ( 14 ).

3. The crawler crane as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the crawler-support lower pivot shaft ( 13 ) lies between the lever end ( 26 ) and the transversal-bridge lower pivot shaft ( 14 ).

4. A crawler crane ( 1 ) comprising:

two crawler supports ( 9 ) having rotating crawlers ( 8 ),

at least one transversal bridge ( 10 ) connecting the two crawler supports ( 9 ),

a crane structure ( 3 ) having at least one crane boom ( 4 , 5 ) connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) so as to be able to pivot about a vertical axis ( 7 ),

a pivot articulation ( 6 ) that pivotally connects the transversal bridge ( 10 ) to the crane structure ( 3 ),

wherein at least one of the crawler supports ( 9 ) is connected to the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a double link ( 11 ) comprising:

a lower link ( 12 ) that is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) via a crawler support lower pivot shaft ( 13 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a transversal bridge lower pivot shaft ( 14 ),

an upper link ( 15 ) that is articulated on the crawler support ( 9 ) via a crawler support upper pivot shaft ( 16 ) and on the transversal bridge ( 10 ) via a transversal bridge upper pivot shaft ( 17 ), and

an adjustment drive ( 20 ) for pivotally displacing at least one of the two links ( 12 , 15 ) about at least one of the pivot shafts with which said link is articulated to the crawler support ( 9 ) and the transversal bridge ( 10 ),

wherein said double link ( 11 ) enables compensation of a roll inclination about an axis longitudinal to a driving direction defined by the two crawler supports ( 9 ),

wherein the adjustment drive ( 20 ) has a threaded rod ( 22 ) connected to the crawler support ( 9 ) and a nut ( 24 ) connected to the driven lower link ( 12 ), the nut being complementary to the thread of the threaded rod ( 22 ), and

wherein the nut ( 24 ) is connected via a linear guiding mechanism ( 57 ) to the driven link ( 12 ).

5. The crawler crane as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the linear guiding mechanism ( 57 ) is in the form of a roller-type connection.

6. The crawler crane as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the guiding mechanism ( 57 ) comprises a guiding body ( 54 ) having a top end wall ( 58 ) and a bottom end wall ( 59 ), wherein the top end wall ( 58 ) runs on a top roller unit ( 60 ) and wherein the bottom end wall ( 59 ) runs on a bottom roller unit ( 61 ).

7. The crawler crane as claimed in claim 6 , wherein each of the roller units ( 60 , 61 ) has a plurality of bearing rollers ( 62 ).

8. The crawler crane as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the bearing rollers ( 62 ) of the top roller unit ( 60 ) are supported in a top bearing cage ( 63 ) and the bearing rollers ( 62 ) of the bottom roller unit ( 61 ) are supported in a bottom bearing cage ( 64 ), wherein the bearing cages ( 63 , 64 ) are fixedly connected to a lever end ( 26 ) of the lower link ( 12 ) via holding components ( 65 ).

9. The crawler crane as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the holding components ( 65 ) are wedge-shaped in an axial section through the adjustment drive ( 20 ).

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2020
From: TEREX GLOBAL GMBH
To: TADANO DEMAG GMBH
Reel/Frame 053598/0730 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2017
From: TEREX CRANES GERMANY GMBH
To: TEREX GLOBAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 043087/0195 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 3, 2013
From: TEREX DEMAG GMBH
To: TEREX CRANES GERMANY GMBH
Reel/Frame 031140/0309 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2013
From: NOESKE, INGO; WECKBECKER, ALFONS; RUTZ, WERNER
To: TEREX DEMAG GMBH
Reel/Frame 030929/0769 →