Method and control assembly for operating at least two lifting devices, in particular cranes, in parallel
First Claim
1. A method for operating at least two lifting devices, in particular cranes, in group operation and in normal operation modes, said method comprising:
- controlling the at least two lifting devices through a common bus, wherein each of the lifting devices comprises a respective electric lifting gear motor with a respective control system that is connected to a respective control switch, wherein the control switches are selectable between normal operation and group operation;
preparing for changing from normal operation to group operation by deselecting normal operation at all but a first of the control switches that are in a normal operation, whereby only the first control switch remains in normal operation;
logging on to group operation with the first control switch, thereby changing the first control switch to an active state for group operation, wherein the other control switch or switches that are deselected from normal operation are in a passive state in group operation;
jointly controlling the at least two lifting devices though the common bus with the first control switch;
preparing for changing from group operation to normal operation by deselecting group operation and selecting normal operation at the first control switch; and
logging on to normal operation with the other control switch or switches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and control assembly are provided for operating at least two lifting devices, such as cranes, in group and normal operation modes. Each lifting device has a control system connected to a control switch, and the lifting devices are controlled through a common bus. In group operation, the lifting devices are jointly controlled through the bus by one switch. To operate at least two lifting devices in parallel, one of the switches is active in the group operation and the remaining switch or switches are passive. To prepare for group operation, normal operation is deselected by all but one of the control switches to release a remaining switch for log-in to the active state for group operation. To prepare for normal operation, group operation is deselected and normal operation is selected at the active switch before the other switch or switches are released for logging into normal operation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating at least two lifting devices, in particular cranes, in group operation and in normal operation modes, said method comprising:
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controlling the at least two lifting devices through a common bus, wherein each of the lifting devices comprises a respective electric lifting gear motor with a respective control system that is connected to a respective control switch, wherein the control switches are selectable between normal operation and group operation; preparing for changing from normal operation to group operation by deselecting normal operation at all but a first of the control switches that are in a normal operation, whereby only the first control switch remains in normal operation; logging on to group operation with the first control switch, thereby changing the first control switch to an active state for group operation, wherein the other control switch or switches that are deselected from normal operation are in a passive state in group operation; jointly controlling the at least two lifting devices though the common bus with the first control switch; preparing for changing from group operation to normal operation by deselecting group operation and selecting normal operation at the first control switch; and logging on to normal operation with the other control switch or switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A control assembly for operating at least two lifting devices, in particular cranes, in group operation and in normal operation modes, wherein each lifting device has an electric lifting gear motor with an associated control system that allows the at least two lifting devices to be jointly controlled through a common bus, said control assembly comprising:
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a first control switch operatively connected to a first of the control systems associated with a first of the at least two lifting devices, wherein the first control switch is selectable between normal operation and group operation; a second control switch operatively connected to a second of the control systems associated with a second of the at least two lifting devices, wherein the second control switch is selectable between normal operation and group operation; wherein when normal operation is deselected at the second control switch so that only the first control switch remains in normal operation, the first control switch is operable for logging on to group operation, whereby the control systems are configured for group operation in which the first and second lifting devices are jointly controllable by the first control switch via the common bus; wherein when the control systems are configured for group operation so that the first and second lifting devices are jointly controllable by the first control switch, the first control switch is in an active state and the second control switch is in a passive state; and wherein when group operation is deselected at the first control switch and normal operation is selected at the first control switch, the second control switch is operable for logging on to normal operation, whereby the control systems are configured for normal operation in which the first and second lifting devices are independently and respectively controllable by the first control switch and the second control switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification