Weight detecting apparatus for crane and crane having the same

• US 20060259270A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd. (Kobe Steel Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd. (Kobe Steel Limited)
• Inventors: Shimomura, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/173
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/74 separate from jib
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical

Abstract

A weight detecting apparatus for a crane includes a base machine comprising a lower traveling body and an upper rotating body; weights mounted on this base machine; ID (identification) tags which are installed on the respective weights and in which ID information on weight mounting conditions has been written; and an ID reader for reading the ID information. In this weight detecting apparatus weight detecting apparatus, the mounting conditions of the weights are detected by wireless communications between the ID reader and the ID tags.

Claims

1. A weight detecting apparatus for a crane, the apparatus comprising:

a weight for enhancing the stability of the machine body of the crane, the weight being mounted on a base machine comprising a lower traveling body and an upper rotating body rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body;

an identification (ID) information holding medium which is installed on the weight, and in which ID information on weight mounting conditions has been written; and

an ID reader for reading the ID information, the ID reader being installed to the upper rotating body,

wherein the mounting conditions of the weight are detected by wireless communications between the ID reader and the identification information holding medium.

2. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1,

wherein a plurality of the weights is mounted on the base machine;

wherein the identification information holding medium is installed on each of the plurality of weights; and

wherein the ID reader is a single ID reader and ID information transmitted from each of the ID information holding media is read by the single ID reader.

3. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1,

wherein a plurality of the weights is mounted on the base machine;

wherein the identification information holding medium is installed on each of the plurality of weights; and

wherein the ID reader consists of a plurality of ID readers and ID information transmitted from each of the ID information holding media is read by the ID readers, with the readers being sorted by the kind of weight.

4. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1,

wherein a counterweight constituted of a plurality of weight members is mounted on the rear end of the upper rotating body in the base machine;

and

wherein the identification information holding medium is installed on each of the weight members of the counterweight.

5. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1,

wherein at least one carbody weight is installed on a carbody in the lower traveling body in the base machine;

and

wherein the at least one identification information holding medium is installed on the at least one carbody weight on a one-to-one basis.

6. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1, wherein a RFID tag of a metal-compatible type is used as the identification information holding medium.

7. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1, wherein an identification code of the mass of the weight to which the identification information holding medium has been installed, is written in the identification information holding medium.

8. The weight detecting apparatus for a crane according to claim 1, wherein an identification code of the mass and the position of the weight to which the identification information holding medium has been installed, is written in the identification information holding medium.

9. A crane comprising:

a lower traveling body;

an upper rotating body rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body, the upper rotating body constituting a base machine together with the lower traveling body;

a weight mounted on the base machine; and

an overload preventing apparatus installed to the upper rotating body, the overload preventing apparatus performing an overload preventing operation based on a crane capability that has been set using mounting conditions of the weight as one factor of the crane capability,

wherein the overload preventing apparatus sets the crane capability based on weight mounting conditions detected by the weight detecting apparatus as recited in claim 1.

10. The crane according to claim 9, wherein the overload preventing apparatus permits the setting of a crane capability only when capability data selected by an operator from a plurality of different pieces of capability data on weight mounting conditions, stored in advance, conforms to detected weight mounting conditions.

11. The crane according to claim 9, wherein the overload preventing apparatus sets a crane capability by automatically selecting capability data conforming to the detected weight mounting conditions, from a plurality of different pieces of capability data on weight mounting conditions, stored in advance.