Apparatus for reducing the axle load of a multiaxle movable telescopic crane

• US 6,032,809 A
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terex Global GmbH (Terex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Irsch, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahan, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US09/079,732
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 280/404, 280/423.1, 52/120, 296/181, 212/180, 212/181, 212/299, 212/300, 212/301, 212/177, 212/175
• US Class Current: 212/181
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/42 with jibs of adjustable configuration, e.g. foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/62 Constructional features or details of dredgers E02F

Abstract

An apparatus for reducing the axle load of a multiaxle movable crane which includes a truck; a superstructure rotatably mounted on the truck; a main jib including a basic jib and at least one telescopic section, the basic jib having a plurality of rollers fastened in operative connection, the main jib being releasably fastened to the superstructure; and a semitrailer having a front end and a back end with a loading area, a first ramp-like beam and a second ramp-like beam arranged in a longitudinal direction of the semitrailer in the loading area so as to be parallel to and at a distance from one another, each ramp-like beam having a top edge and a contoured runway disposed along the top edge, the rollers being configured to the contour of the runway and operable to transport the main jib from the superstructure to the semitrailer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing the axle load of a multiaxle movable crane, consisting essentially of:

a truck;

a superstructure rotatably mounted on the truck;

a main jib releasably fastened to the superstructure and including a basic jib, at least one telescopic section, and a pair of rollers fastened to the basic jib, the basic jib having a sidewall and an end region;

a semitrailer having a front end, a back end with a loading area, a first ramp-shaped beam and a second ramp-shaped beam arranged in a longitudinal direction of the semitrailer in the loading area so as to be parallel to and at a distance from one another and to form a longitudinally extending ramp, each ramp-shaped beam having a top edge and a contoured runway disposed along the top edge, said rollers being configured to engage the contour of the runway and operable to transport the main jib from the superstructure directly to the semitrailer, the semitrailer further having a saddle, and a receiving part disposed on said saddle so as to be angularly movable and laterally displaceable so as to receive a roller head of the main jib for transporting the main jib from the truck to the semitrailer;

a pair of web plates angled in a transverse direction of the basic jib and fastened to the sidewall, the rollers being mounted to the web plates; and

additional rollers arranged in the end region on each side of the basic jib, said superstructure having rails arranged thereon, wherein said rollers and said rails form a guide for transport of the main jib.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said ramp-shaped beam has a fixed element and a movable element, the movable element being connected to the fixed element so as to be movable between a position in which the movable element extends from the fixed element and a position in which the movable element is substantially parallel to the fixed element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixed element has a horizontal portion which extends toward the front end of the semitrailer from a point of connection with the movable element, and an obliquely descending portion at a front end of the horizontal portion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable element comprises a horizontal portion which extends from a point of connection with fixed stationary element toward the truck when the truck is positioned in front of the semitrailer, and a portion at a front end of the horizontal portion which obliquely descends in the direction of the truck.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the obliquely descending portion of the movable element further comprises a lower edge portion and a guide part including two struts and the truck comprising a top edge for resting against the lower edge portion and a receiving part at a bumper region for receiving the guide part.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixed element comprises a hinge for pivotably moving the movable element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the movable element is positionable in front of the multiaxle movable crane so as to extend, starting from a pivoting point with the fixed element, toward the multiaxle movable crane, the movable element having a horizontal portion including an obliquely descending portion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a guide part including two struts is arranged on the obliquely descending portion and the truck has a top edge and a truck receiving part comprising two forks, wherein the movable element comes to bear on the top edge of the truck and the struts engage the two forks of the truck receiving part.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable element is displaceable in a longitudinal direction parallel to the fixed element.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said runway has an upwardly directed U-shaped profile.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the truck has a top edge and a truck receiving part and each ramp-shaped beam of the semitrailer has a movable element having a lower edge region, the lower edge region having an obliquely descending portion abuting the top edge of the truck, the obliquely descending portion having a plurality of struts arranged on it to engage the truck receiving part.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the truck receiving part comprises two forks.