Hook-on grab bucket, in particular motor-driven underwater grab bucket

• US 20050000124A1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rohr Dredge North America LLC (Ellicott Dredge Enterprises LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wolfgang Rohr GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Rohr, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/398
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 3/16 by fluid motors
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/47 with grab buckets grab equipment for cranes B66C

Abstract

A grab bucket, in particular motor-driven underwater grab bucket, has first and second half-scoops. The scoops can be moved relative to on another from an open position into a closed position by a hydraulic cylinder. The opening angle of the half-scoops is monitored by a sensor which is connected to a control and monitoring device. The sensor is integrated in the hydraulic cylinder and generates an actuating-travel signal which corresponds to the actuating travel of the hydraulic cylinder.

Claims

1. A hook-on grab bucket, comprising:

first and second half-scoops movably disposed relative to one another between an open position and a closed position;

an hydraulic cylinder for moving said first and second half-scoops between the open position and the closed position;

a sensor disposed to monitor an opening angle of said half-scoops, said sensor being integrated in said hydraulic cylinder and generating an actuating-travel signal corresponding to an actuating travel of said hydraulic cylinder; and

a control and monitoring device connected to said sensor.

2. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 1, which further comprises a motor for driving said hydraulic cylinder.

3. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a magnetostrictive sensor.

4. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 3, wherein said hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod, and said sensor comprises a bar-shaped sensor element and a positioning magnet, said bar-shaped sensor element running within said piston rod of said hydraulic cylinder and said positioning magnet being held on said piston rod and moving together with said piston rod.

5. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 1, wherein said control and monitoring device is configured to compare the opening angle of said half-scoops with a predefined setpoint value and to correct an actuating position of said half-scoops if a deviation between the opening angle and the predefined setpoint value exceeds a predefined threshold value.

6. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 1, wherein said control and monitoring device is configured to calculate the opening angle of said half-scoops from the actuating-travel signal of said sensor.

7. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 1, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is one of two hydraulic cylinders with sensors disposed therein, and each of said half-scoops is respectively assigned at least one of said hydraulic cylinders.

8. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 7, wherein said control and monitoring device is configured to compare the actuating-travel signals of said two hydraulic cylinders assigned to each of said two half-scoops with one another, and to stop a movement of said half-scoops into the closed position if a difference between the respective actuating-travel signals exceeds a predefined threshold value.

9. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 7, wherein said control and monitoring device is configured to determine from the actuating-travel signals of said two hydraulic cylinders associated actuating speeds of said hydraulic cylinders and to stop a movement of said half-scoops into the closed position if a difference between the respective actuating speeds of said two hydraulic cylinders exceeds a predefined threshold value of if one of the actuating speeds drops below a predefined minimum value for the actuating speed.

10. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 9, wherein said control and monitoring device is configured to generate an optical or acoustic indication signal if a movement of said half-scoops has stopped.

11. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 8, wherein said control and monitoring device is configured to generate an optical or acoustic indication signal if a movement of said half-scoops has stopped.

12. The hook-on grab bucket according to claim 1, which comprises a display unit connected to said control and monitoring device, for optically illustrating at least one of the actuating position and actuating speed of said half-scoops.