Mobile crane

• US 20080246658A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Inventors: Morath, Erwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.09
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/18 Control systems or devices exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/40 Applications of devices for transmitting control pulses; Applications of remote control devices control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile crane having means for wireless reception or for the determination of data identifying the location of the crane as well as having transmission means which are in communication with these means or can be connected to them, wherein the transmission means are configured such that they transmit the data identifying the location of the crane from the crane to a receiver in a wireless manner.

Claims

1. A mobile crane having means for wireless reception or for the determination of data identifying the location of the crane as well as having transmission means which are in communication with these means or can be connected to them, wherein the transmission means are configured such that they transmit the data identifying the location of the crane from the crane to a receiver in a wireless manner.

2. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for wireless reception or for the determination of data identifying the location of the crane include a GPS receiver.

3. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the crane has a store in which the received or determined data identifying the location of the crane are stored.

4. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 3, wherein the crane has test means by which the connection quality or the existence of the transmission path for the wireless transmission of data from the crane to the receiver can be determined;

and the crane has a controller which is configured such that it initiates the storage of the data identifying the location of the crane in the store when the connection quality falls below a limit value or when there is no connection and initiates the transmission of the stored data when the connection quality exceeds a limit value or when there is a connection.

15. A method for the localization of a crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the location of the crane is detected or determined based on the data transmitted on the part of the crane and identifying the location of the crane.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the crane receives data identifying its location;

or in that the crane carries out a calculation of its location based on received data.

5. A mobile crane having means for the wireless transmission of a software update signal to a software management unit as well as for the wireless reception of a response signal or having means for the wireless checking of a software management unit, having evaluation means for the evaluation of the response signal or of the result of the check as well as having reception means for the wireless reception of software.

6. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 5, wherein the crane furthermore has means for the independent loading and installation of the software received by the receiving means.

7. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 5, wherein the crane is designed such that the wireless transmission of a software update signal or the wireless checking of the software management unit takes place at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined points in time.

8. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 7, wherein the crane has detection means by which it can be detected when the time intervals or the points in time were not observed.

9. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 8, wherein the crane has means for the restriction or for the stopping of the crane operation which are in communication with or can be connected to the detection means and which are designed such that the crane operation can be restricted or stopped when it is determined by means of the detection means that the time intervals or the points in time were not observed.

17. A method for the equipping of a mobile crane in accordance with claim 5 with software, in particular with a software update, wherein the crane transmits an update signal to a software management unit and receives a response signal from it;

or the crane carries out a wireless check of a software management unit and then receives software in a wireless manner in dependence on the response signal or in dependence on the check.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the crane loads and installs the software received in a wireless manner independently.

10. A mobile crane having transmission means for the wireless transmission of data relating to the maintenance and/or to a problem of the crane or for the provision of these data for their wireless retrieval as well having means for the wireless reception of diagnostic or service data based on the data transmitted in a wireless manner.

19. A method for the carrying out of a diagnosis and/or for the provision of service information for a mobile crane in accordance with claim 10, wherein the crane transmits data relating to the maintenance and/or a problem of the crane in a wireless manner to a diagnostic or service unit and/or provides these data for wireless retrieval by a diagnostic or service unit and then receives diagnostic or service data determined in dependence on the data transmitted in a wireless manner.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the diagnostic or service data are determined in a center based on the data transmitted by the crane and are transmitted to the crane in a wireless manner.

11. A mobile crane having means for the optical detection of the crane, of parts of the crane or for the optical detection of the crane working area as well as having transmission means by which data based on the optical detection can be transmitted to a predetermined unit in a wireless manner.

21. A method for the operation of a crane in accordance with claim 11, wherein the data transmitted by means of the crane and based on the optical detection or the crane operating data are utilized, further processed or stored for the operation of the crane.

12. A mobile crane having means for the detection and storage of crane operating data as well as having transmission means by which the detected and stored crane operating data can be transmitted to a predetermined unit in a wireless manner.

13. A mobile crane having transmission means for the wireless transmission of one or more signals as well as having test means by which a test can be made whether the signal or signals were emitted by the transmission means, with the test means being designed such that the crane operation is restricted or stopped in the event that it is found by the test means that the signal or signals were not emitted or were not emitted at a predetermined point in time or not within or after the end of a predetermined time period.

14. A mobile crane in accordance with claim 13, wherein the predetermined point in time or the time period or its ending and/or the time duration between the predetermined point in time or time period or its ending and the restriction or the stopping of the crane operation can be set.

22. A method for the operation of a crane, in particular of a crane in accordance with claim 13, wherein the crane or a determination unit carries out a check of whether the crane has transmitted wireless signals or whether the crane has transmitted wireless signals in due time.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein the crane operation is restricted or stopped when it is found by means of the crane or by the determination unit that the wireless signals were not emitted or were not emitted in due time.