HOISTING DEVICE

Abstract: A hoisting device (1) comprising at least a hoisting mast (7), a foot (4) arranged on the underside and connected to the at least one hoisting mast, and hoisting means (6) connected at least to the top of the hoisting mast (7), wherein the hoisting device (1) is assembled from components or elements (8), the largest of which has dimensions which do not exceed those of a normal container, whereby the entire hoisting device (1) can be transported easily and inexpensively by land, sea or air.

Description: HOISTING DEVICE The invention relates to a hoisting device, comprising at least a hoisting mast, a foot arranged on the under¬ side and connected to the at least one hoisting mast and hoisting means connected at least to the top of the hoisting mast. Such hoisting devices are generally known and are usu¬ ally embodied as complete mobile cranes. When such hoist¬ ing devices serve for hoisting heavy and/or large volumi¬ nous loads, these cranes are bulky and heavy. Large mobile cranes with for instance caterpillar tracks as displacing elements can only be disassembled into large units such as jib, counterweight and chassis, and can in fact only be transported by ship or large truck in fact to locations for hoisting jobs. In the case transport takes place by truck, a special licence is gen¬ erally required for such a journey in respect of the standard dimensions and weights for normal road traffic being exceeded. Hoisting operations can often be performed on navigable water, but in other cases hoisting operations have to be carried out far inland, wherein transport overland forms a particular problem. The object of the present invention is to provide a hoisting device which is suitable for hoisting loads up to 10,000 tons to a height of 100 metres, which can be transported easily and at low cost, and which requires a short time duration for putting into use at the location of the hoisting job, irrespective of the required hoist¬ ing height and load weight. This object is achieved in that the hoisting device is assembled from components, the largest of which does not exceed the dimensions of a container usual for the type of transport . It will be apparent that transporting means are present all over the world for transporting so-called normal con¬ tainers. These are for transport by sea and by road, by rail or by air. Because according to the invention the hoisting device can also be disassembled into components which do not exceed the dimensions of the normal contain¬ er for transport, these can be transported in the same easy manner as a normal container or therein. The components which are intended for the mast parts (posts) are preferably tubular. These are substantially under strain of axial pressure. Not only can they be coupled as containers (if necessary) during transport, but they are also embodied such that they can form a post with coupling options for arranging shores, wind bracings and additional framework elements in order to arrive at an assembled post comparable to a kite construction. The present invention is further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed drawing. In the drawing: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hoisting device according to the invention; figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodi¬ ment of a hoisting device according to the invention; figure 3 is a broken away view of a detail of a hoist¬ ing mast according to the invention; figure 4 is a detail view of an element of the hoisting mast depicted in figure 3 in retracted form; figure 5 is a perspective, partly broken away detail view of the foot of a hoisting device according to the invention; figure 6 shows a perspective view of a counterweight according to the present invention; figure 7 shows a partly broken away perspective view of a portion of the counterweight depicted in figure 6; figure 8 is a perspective view of a construction shown in the figures during transport; figures 9 to 16 schematically show possible applica¬ tions . Figure 1 shows a hoisting device 1 which in this embo¬ diment is formed by a hoisting jib 2, a rear jib 3 , a foot 4, a counterweight 5 and a hoisting element 6. Hoisting jib 2 is formed by two posts 7 which here are each assembled from retractable and extending elements which are further elucidated hereinafter. Both posts 7 are mutually connected by means of a cross brace 9, whe¬ rein a pull rod construction 10 is for instance arranged on the rear of both posts in order to prevent bending. It is noted herein that not only are the posts 7 each detachable into elements 8, which can easily be trans¬ ported separately, but that the same applies for the ele¬ ments of the cross brace 9 and of the construction 10. Rear jib 3 is formed by two posts 11 which are likewise each assembled from separate elements. Foot 4 is formed by a support plate 12 to which posts 7 and 11 are pivotally connected to the support plate 12 by means of pivots 13. Support plate 12 is further moveable in linear direction over a track 14 which will be eluci¬ dated with reference to the other figures. Use is herein made of rails 15. At the end of rear jib 3 both posts 11 are mutually connected in a block 16. This block 16 is connected to a counterweight which is designated as a whole by 5 and which will be described with reference to one of the fol- lowing figures. Block 16 is connected by means of guys 17 to the top of hoisting jib 2. At the top of hoisting jib 2 is further arranged a lifting element 6 which is intended for raising hoisting cable 18 in vertical direction, on the underside of which cable is fixed a hook 19 or possibly another fixing means, for example a sling. Such a lifting device 6 is formed by a for instance hydraulically driven element which is moveable stepwise in vertical direction and which separately grips strands of the hoisting cable. Such lifting devices are known in the prior art and the operation will not be elucidated further. It is otherwise equally possible to make use of other lifting apparatus, wherein the hoisting cable is guided over a block at the top of the jib, and wherein the hoisting cable is then possibly guided via a second block to a winch or the like (not shown) . However, in respect of the easy transportability the use of a lifting device 6 as according to figure 1 is easier and simpler. It is noted that such a lifting device 6 can also be used in the guys, see element 44, in order to enable erection of the mast during assembly. If desired, such a lifting device can also be arranged between counterweight 5 and block 16 of post 11. In figure 2 another embodiment of the hoisting device according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment, wherein corresponding components are designated with the same numerals as the embodiment shown in figure 1, there is a hoisting jib 2, the dimensions of which can be smaller than in the embodiment shown in figure 1. This embodiment is particularly suitable for assembly on a platform, for example on a floating derrick. The invention is then also of importance for instance for carrying out hoisting operations in waters which are not in communication with the open sea and which must be reached by land. The construction shown in figure 2 further comprises a kite construction 21 to provide hoisting jib 2 with sufficient resistance to deflection. Another difference from the embodiment shown in figure 1 lies in the fact that in figure 2 use is made of a double winch 22 which is fixed onto a platform and on which the hoisting cable 8 is wound, which hoisting cable 8 is further guided via a guide block 23 arranged at the top of hoisting jib 2. The pivots 13 are connected to two separate fixing shoes 24 which, because of their shape, fit into shoes 25 welded onto platform 20. Fixing further takes place by means of bolts 26. Figure 3 shows a detail of the post 11 of jib 2 in figure 1. This shows that post 11 is formed by elements 8 which are formed in each case from two concentric pipes 27, 28. The pipes 27 and 28 herein have an unequal diame¬ ter so that they can slide into each other. Pipes 27 and 28 further have approximately the same length. The length of each pipe part is slightly shorter than the internal length of a normal 40 or 20-foot container. This means that in the situation where pipes 27 and 28 are pushed into each other the whole assembly fits inside a 40 or 20-foot container. It is otherwise also possible to base the whole system on 10-foot container dimensions. For fixing to a following element 8 the broad pipes 27 are provided on their distal end with a coupling flange 30, which is embodied with holes 31 with which connection can be made to a corresponding flange 30 of a connecting element 8. For mutual connection and locking of pipes 28 use can be made of various techniques, for example the ears 29 shown in the drawings into which connecting pins can be inserted. It is also possible to use these for the fastening to the cross brace 9. It is noted that the external size of the part 8 does not exceed that of a normal container. Figure 4 shows the part 8 of the construction depicted in figure 3; the elements 27, 28 respectively are herein pushed into each other for transport purposes . In figure 5 is shown the construction of the pivot 13 in addition to a mechanism with which footplate 12 can be moved over rail 15. A hydraulic jack 35 serves to drive the footplate 12 over the rail 15 which has a substan¬ tially U-shaped cross section. Guidable in the channel are shoes 34 to which the hydraulic cylinder 35 is fixed. The piston rod 36 of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to footplate 12 by means of a pivot 37. Shoes 34 can be fixed inside rail 15 by means of protrusions 39 arranged in the side walls 38 of the rail. For this purpose the shoe is connected by means of a shaft 40 to two locks 41 which can be placed into engagement with protrusions 39. By means of the rail 15 which is supported on cross beams 14 it is possible to place the shoe repeatedly in locking engagement with the rail at different points, so that footplate 12 can be placed repeatedly through a short distance by means of one stroke of hydraulic cylin¬ der 35. Large displacements can be realized by repeating this process and placing the lock in engagement with a different protrusion each time. It will be apparent that the stroke of the cylinder must be at least as large as the pitch of the protrusions. It may be that in addition to footplate 12 the counter¬ weight 5 must also be displaced. Use can be made for this purpose of a similar, for instance synchronously operat- ing drive system, but it is also possible to make a rigid connection between these two parts. In the present embodiment there are two parallel rails. By making use of four rails ordered in a suitable pattern and by making use of four contact points between the rails and the footplate, it is possible to cause the footplate and the construction arranged thereon to rotate through an angle of at least 90°. The counterweight can be formed by two or more contain- ers open at the top which fit into each other. By placing them on each other both can be filled with water, sand, gravel, rocks, steel or other available material. These bins can also be formed from normal containers or by vessels which can be joined together as in the case of containers . It is herein also possible, for instance when using water and/or sand as counterweight, to make the contain¬ ers retractable and extending and subsequently lockable, so that the content can be increased. Figures 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the counter¬ weight. The counterweight 5 is formed by a plate 42 having placed thereon cylindrical holders 43 which each consist of a bottom piece 44 and a top piece 45, wherein each of the top pieces 45 is slidable inside the bottom pieces 44 and wherein, if desired, a seal is maintained between both pieces if water is used as filling. The end surfaces of each of the pieces 44, 45 are once again provided with fixing ears which correspond with those of a normal container, so that the assembly can be easily moved. The relevant fixing ears can further be used for mutually fixing the cylindrical holders 43. Figure 7 also shows how both cylinders 44, 45 slide into each other, wherein the liquid seal between the cylinders is maintained by means of a large O-ring 50 and the mutual position of cylinder halves 44, 45 can be maintained by means of locks 51. The holders can be filled with locally available mate¬ rial, for example water, gravel, sand, boulders, etc. To allow engagement of the guys use is made of a fixing block 46 which is provided with an eye 47 and which is connected to bottom plate 42 by means of pull rods 48. Figure 8 herein shows how such a holder 44 in the retracted situation is transported in its entirety on a truck 49. Because the invention provides separate kit elements, it is possible to form many configurations thereof. Figures 9 and 10 are two practical embodiments while figure 11 is a pontoon 50 formed from container-like and coupled elements, on which pontoon a hoisting device 51 is placed in order to thus form a floating crane. Adapted standard pontoons with hoisting device 51 thereon can also be used. Figure 12 shows a side view of the hoisting device wherein, in addition to the main post, the rear mast 11 is also embodied as in figure 2 as a so-called kite construction. Figure 13 shows an alternative stabilization against deflection by arranging pull-push rods 52 on one side, also see the rear jib. Figure 14 shows the hoisting device wherein by adding an additional pair of masts (posts) 53, large objects, for instance container cranes, are pushed or displaced upward. Figures 15a, 15b show the hoisting device wherein, by adding one longer jib 7 to the top of the posts which are here bent, heavy, long loads higher than the hoisting masts can be hoisted or moved. Figure 16 shows the hoisting device wherein special hoisting projects can be performed by adding an auxiliary mast to the top of the posts. It will be apparent that all these embodiments are assembled in a manner as shown and described with refer¬ ence to fig. 1 to 7.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Hoisting device comprising at least a hoisting mast, a foot arranged on the underside and connected to the at least one hoisting mast, and hoisting means connected at least to the top of the hoisting mast, characterized in that the hoisting device is assembled from components or elements, the largest of which has dimensions which do not exceed those of a normal container. 2. Hoisting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one or more components are formed by normal container. 3. Hoisting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the components are adapted to enable placing thereof in a normal container. 4. Hoisting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one mast is detachable into mast elements which are provided with coupling means ' corre¬ sponding with those of a normal container. 5. Hoisting device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that at least the or each element is formed by at least two extending, concentric, substantially tubular bodies which are mutually slidable into each other and which are lockable relative to each other in their ex¬ tended position. 6. Hoisting device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the hoisting device com¬ prises at least one counterweight formed by at least one fillable element. 7. Hoisting device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the filling elements are mutually connectable. 8. Hoisting device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, charac¬ terized in that the filling elements are formed by ex¬ tending cylinders. 9. Hoisting device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the hoisting mast is pro- vided at its top with hoisting means. 10. Hoisting device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the hoisting means are formed by a stepwise moveable gripping element for the hoisting cable.

Inventors: STOOF PIETER MARIA, STOOF, PIETER, MARIA
Applicants: STOOF PIETER M, STOOF, PIETER, MARIA
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B66C23
IPC codes: B66C23