MONITORING AND ALARM DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY

• US 20120037585A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tadano Demag GmbH (Tadano Limited)
• Original Assignee: Terex Demag GmbH (Tadano Limited)
• Inventors: Jene, Thilo
• Granted Patent: US 8,950,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 212/276
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring and alarm device for construction machinery having long and heavy booms, such as cranes, in particular mobile cranes, is characterized in that a monitor system is provided, which monitors parameters that may change in case of an undesired lowering of the boom or of boom sections in a non-operating condition, and triggers an optical and/acoustic and/or wireless alarm system if the parameters change.

Claims

1. A monitoring and alarm device for construction machinery having long and heavy booms or boom sections, such as cranes, in particular mobile cranes, characterized in that the monitoring device monitors parameters that can change during an undesired lowering of the boom or boom sections when the crane is not in operation, and alarm signals, which trigger an optical and/or acoustic and/or wireless alarm system when the parameters change, can be emitted.

2. The monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring device is arranged on load-bearing cylinders, such as the luffing cylinder of the main boom, on the luffing cylinder of adjustable boom extensions, on outrigger cylinders, on telescopic cylinders of main booms, on telescopic cylinders of telescopic boom extensions, or on anchoring cylinders of boom anchors.

3. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring and alarm device can distinguish between different degrees of urgency, so that only a crane driver is alerted in a first degree of urgency, and a crane surrounding area in a second degree of urgency.

4. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring and alarm comprise a GPS system, which detects the position of the crane and crane components or the changes thereof.

5. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 2, characterized in that the monitoring and alarm device additionally comprise a hydraulic backfeed, which prevents the drainage of the cylinders in case of a pressure loss.

6. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that A monitoring and alarm device is permanently activated or manually activated and/or deactivated by the crane driver or is automatically activated when the crane is shut off.

7. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring and alarm device is connected to an autonomous unit that generates electricity or to batteries or to a power supply line in order to relieve the strain on the crane battery.

8. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring and alarm device is connected to an already existing overload limiter and/or working range limiter of the crane and also comprise the sensors available for the load torque limitation and/or working range limitation, and the input accesses of the crane control system can be used for the input of tolerance limits for the parameters to be monitored.

9. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the warnings of the monitoring and alarm device can be transmitted to other construction machinery, in particular cranes, and have an influence on the anti-collision controls available therein.

10. A monitoring and alarm device according to claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring and alarm device is connected to a teleservice system, which informs a central location about the crane condition, such as, for example, the operating hours, oil status, or utilization ratio.

11. A method for monitoring construction machinery having long and heavy booms or boom sections, such as cranes, in particular mobile cranes, having a monitoring and alarm device comprises monitoring parameters that can change during an undesired lowering of the boom or boom sections when the crane is not in operation and issuing alarm signals, which triggers an optical and/or acoustic and/or wireless alarm system when the parameters change.

12. The method for monitoring construction machinery of claim 11 further comprising monitoring the change in angles between crane booms.

13. The method for monitoring construction machinery of claim 11 further comprising monitoring the change in length of the crane cylinders.