Apparatus for the damping of the swing of a loading device

Abstract: Apparatus for the damping of the swing of a loading device, said apparatus comprising a trolley (1) provided with a hoisting machine (13) having a hoisting rope on which a loading device (6) is suspended, and downward-pointing brackets (2) attached to the bottom of the trolley. Each retaining lever (4) is mounted on a bracket (2) with a joint (3) enabling the lever (4) to turn relative to the bracket (2). The loading device (6) is so constructed that, when lifted up between the brackets (2), it will turn the retaining levers (4) into an essentially vertical position. An anti-friction device (9) is provided between the retaining lever (4) and the loading device (6).

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus suitable for damping the swing of a loading device, said apparatus comprising a trolley provided with a hoisting machine having a hoisting rope on which the loading device is suspended, and downward-pointing brackets attached to the bottom of the trolley. Such an apparatus is known from the document EP-A-0 342 655. The swing of the loading device of a crane can be damped by using an even driving speed, avoiding jerks and large changes of speed, and the operator may hold the load steady while operating the crane. However, these expedients are generally only applicable in the case of small loads. In the hoisting of heavy and large loads, the damping systems mentioned below are used. To damp the load swing, cranes generally employ a system where the load is lifted into a position between the brackets attached to the bottom of the trolley. The loading device consists of several bars or it may have a structure resembling a funnel, a box, etc. This type of a damping system has the drawback that when the loading device is hoisted at a high speed into the position between the brackets, the gap between the device and the brackets must be sufficiently wide, which in turn leads to after-swing. A narrow gap between the loading device and the brackets gives rise to large lateral forces as the loading device may hit the brackets, in which case the load may fall down from the loading device. The above-described problem has been solved using a procedure employing known techniques, involving four brackets placed symmetrically around a cylindrical loading device so that a suitable gap is left between the brackets and the loading device. Using a pneumatic device, damping elements designed to lock the loading device in place between the brackets are forced into this gap. Besides being complex, such a system is also very expensive and restricts the hoisting speed of the load. The swing of the loading device can also be damped using a system based on telescopic or scissor guidance. Such systems allow the damping of the swing caused by the turning or lifting of the load. These damping systems are expensive and require plenty of material and space. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above. The invention aims at a simple low-cost solution. The invention is characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the features of the dependent claims. Among the advantages of the invention as compared to previously known techniques are the following: simple construction the loading device can be hoisted at a high speed into its position between the brackets, involving an increase in the capacity of the crane the apparatus is a mechanical one, needing no pneumatic or electric control, and consequently cheap simultaneous operation of the hoisting and travelling machines is not necessary. In the following, the invention is described by the aid of an example, referring to the drawings attached, wherein: Fig. 1 presents a simplified side view of a situation where the loading device is being hoisted into the space between retaining levers. Fig. 2 presents a simplified side view of a situation where the loading device is locked in position by means of retaining levers. Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, including a loading device 6 suspended from the trolley 1 by means of a pulley 11 . The loading device is a cylindrical body with a vertical central axis and a jacket forming a vertical surface. The loading device is hoisted into the space between vertical brackets 2 provided on the trolley 1 . The brackets 2 are so mounted on the frame of the trolley 1 that they extend vertically downwards from the bottom of the trolley frame. There are four brackets and they are placed symmetrically relative to the loading device at a distance of 90° from each other as seen from above. In addition, the brackets are so located that, when lifted up, the loading device 6 will be separated from the brackets by a suitable gap. The lower part of each bracket is provided with a vertical slot of sufficient length, with its open end downwards. The lower end of each bracket is provided with a hole for the trunnion of a joint 3 , with a retaining lever 4 so mounted on said trunnion that it is able to turn about its joint 3 in the slot of the bracket. The retaining levers 4 are so mounted that, due to gravity, their lower ends will be wider apart than their upper ends. To make this possible, the retaining levers 4 are so constructed that, relative to the joint 3 , the centre of gravity of the lever in the vertical position lies on the side facing the loading device 6 . The trunnion 3 is in a horizontal position. For the sake of simplicity, the figures show only two brackets, seen directly from one side. For the sake of clarity, only the upper part of the other two brackets is shown. The dimensions of the retaining levers 4 are chosen in accordance with the strain imposed on them. The upper end of each retaining lever is provided with a metallic runner 9 which acts as an anti-friction device reducing wear. The runner rolls along a bevel or a bevel guide 8 provided at the upper end of the loading device 6 . There are four bevel guides. Alternatively, the bevel guides may consist of a conical solid ring whose diameter at the lower edge corresponds to the diameter of the upper part of the loading device 6 while at the upper edge the ring has a suitable smaller diameter. When the loading device 6 is being lifted up between the brackets 2 , the bevel or bevel guide 8 will first hit the runners 9 of the retaining levers 4 and, going further up, turn the retaining levers 4 into a vertical position, so that at the end of the lifting movement both the upper and the lower end of each retaining lever 4 is firmly pressed against the loading device 6 . There are four retaining levers 4 placed symmetrically around the loading device 6 , thus enabling the loading device 6 to be firmly locked in place. If the retaining levers 4 were freely turnable about their joints, the apparatus would not function well because of excessive lever swing. For example, in a situation where the loading device is being lifted up to its position between the retaining levers 4 , the first contact of the loading device with the runner 9 would cause a thrust that would result in the lower end of the lever hitting the side of the loading device. To eliminate this drawback, each bracket is provided with a shock damper 5 to damp the motion of the retaining lever when the latter is turning into the vertical position. A suitable place for the shock damper, which is mounted in a horizontal position, is one where it will meet the rear end of the upper part of the retaining lever at the beginning of the damping motion. Moreover, the shock damper is provided with a spring which returns the shock damper into its rest position and pushes the retaining levers from the horizontal position into an oblique position when the loading device 6 is lowered down from between the retaining levers 4 . Once the loading device is completely disengaged from contact with the retaining levers 4 , these will swing freely about their balanced position unless no stopper is provided for them. The retaining levers would also swing freely during the travel of the trolley. For this reason, each bracket is provided with a stopper 14 located at a suitable place behind the retaining lever. The loading device 6 is provided with a conical guide 7 which is lowered into the core 10 of a paper roll to create a vacuum using a vacuum pump provided in the loading device 6 . The hoisting rope 12 is connected to the loading device 6 via a pulley 11 . One end of the hoisting rope is attached to the machine 13 of the trolley 1 while the other end is attached to the trolley frame. The bevel or bevel guide 8 is made of metal and its angle depends on the deceleration of the hoisting motion. In its highest position, the loading device is completely locked and the damping action is fully effective. Fig. 2 illustrates the embodiment depicted in fig. 1 in a situation where the loading device 6 has been lifted up and is held between the retaining levers 4 , which have engaged the loading device 6 as guided by the bevel 8 . The figure also shows the hoisting machine 13 . It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not restricted to the examples described above, but that they may instead be varied within the scope of the following claims. The runners can be replaced e.g. with a coat of teflon or some other anti-friction material. Similarly, the runners may be placed on the loading device 6 , in which case the latter need not be provided with bevel guides 8 .

Claims: Apparatus suitable for damping the swing of a loading device, said apparatus comprising a trolley (1) provided with a hoisting machine (13) having a hoisting rope on which the loading device (6) is suspended, and downward-pointing brackets (2) attached to the bottom of the trolley, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises retaining levers (4), each of which being mounted on one of the brackets (2) with a joint (3) enabling each lever (4) to turn relative to its bracket (2), an anti-friction device (9) between each retaining lever (4) and the loading device (6), and in that the loading device (6) being so constructed that, when lifted up between the brackets (2), it will turn the retaining levers (4). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining levers (4) are so shaped that, due to the location of the centre of gravity of the levers, their lower ends are moved wider apart by the force of gravity than the corresponding upper ends. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper part of the loading device (6) is provided with a bevelling or a bevel guide (8) which turns the retaining levers (4) into a vertical position when the loading device (6) is lifted up between the brackets (2). Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that each retaining lever (4) is pivoted on a horizontal trunnion (3) in a bracket (2). Apparatus according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that each bracket (2) is provided with a shock damper (5) with a return spring, designed to damp the motion of the retaining lever (4), said damping action starting when the retaining lever (4) approaches the vertical position. Apparatus according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the anti-friction device (9) consists of a runner placed in the upper part of the retaining lever (4).

Inventors: KARHUNEN EERO, KARHUNEN, EERO
Applicants: KONE OY
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B66C13
IPC codes: B66C13, B66C11