Patent Publication Number: US-2021179394-A1

Title: Frame structure of hoist

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a frame structure of a hoist, the frame structure comprising a support frame structure, a bearing wheel arrangement fastened to the support frame structure by suspenders to support the hoist on a main support structure and to move the hoist on the main support structure, whereby the bearing wheel arrangement comprises, in the movement direction of the hoist, bearing wheels arranged on opposite sides thereof, and the frame structure comprises upper sheave arrangements, secured to the support frame structure. 
     A crane type often used in industry is a bridge crane which consists of a bridge running on a rail or rails, a trolley running on the bridge, and a hoist for a load, fixed to the trolley. The hoist of a bridge crane is typically a rope crane. It is important for the usability of a crane that it makes efficient use of the available working space. 
     In such a case, it is advantageous for the structure of the hoist to be such that it allows hoisting a load as high as possible, using the available free height. However, the structure of the hoist needs to be economical to manufacture and reliable. 
     From the point of view of the installability and maintainability of the hoist, it is important that the structure of the hoist allows the hoist to be adapted on a bridge, main support structure, in a simple and fast manner. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is thus to develop a structure of a hoist so that the aforementioned problems may be solved. The object of the invention is achieved by a hoist structure which is characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. 
     The invention is based on a frame structure of a hoist, the frame structure comprising a support frame structure, a bearing wheel arrangement fastened to the support frame structure by suspenders to support the hoist on a main support structure and to move the hoist on the main support structure, whereby the bearing wheel arrangement comprises, in the movement direction of the hoist, bearing wheels arranged on opposite sides thereof, and upper sheave arrangements, secured to the support frame structure. The support frame structure comprises two plates arranged opposite to and at a distance from each other, the upper parts of the plates bent towards each other, and in the support frame structure there is arranged an axle passing through both plates, on which axle a sheave is arranged between the plates, and the bent upper parts of the plates are detachably fastenable by a wedge locking to the suspender in order to adjust the mutual distance between the bearing wheels arranged on opposite sides by means of the suspenders. 
     The advantage of the inventive frame structure of a hoist is the small height dimension, allowing hoisting a load as high as possible, making use of the available free height. The structure of the hoist allows the hoist to be adapted on the main support structure in a simple and fast manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a frame structure of a hoist; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the frame structure of a hoist of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the frame structure of a hoist of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the frame structure of a hoist of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the frame structure of a hoist; 
         FIG. 6  shows a suspender; 
         FIG. 7  shows the suspender of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a suspender which may be used in the frame structure of a hoist of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The frame structure  1  of a hoist may be used, for example, in a trolley of a bridge crane. The trolley moves along a main support structure of a crane. The main support structure typically comprises a profile beam whereby the trolley is supported on a lower flange of the profile beam. So, a main support refers to a supporting structure which, at its simplest, is one beam and in most cases an I beam. The hoisting arrangement of a rope hoist is arranged in a trolley. 
       FIGS. 1 to 5  show a frame structure  1  of a hoist. The frame structure  1  of a hoist comprises a frame support structure  2 , a bearing wheel arrangement  3 , and suspenders  4 . The bearing wheel arrangement  3  is fixed to the support frame structure  2  by the suspenders  4  to support the hoist on the main supports structure and to move the hoist on the main support structure. The bearing wheel arrangement  3  comprises in the direction of movement x of the hoist bearing wheels  5  arranged on opposite sides thereof. The upper sheave arrangements  6  are fastened to the support frame structure  2 . The support frame structure  2  comprises two plates  7  which are arranged face-to-face at a distance from each other. The upper parts  8  of the plates are bent towards each other so that a gap  9  forms between the bent upper parts  8  of the plates  7  of the support frame structure. In the support frame structure  2  there is arranged an axle  10  passing through both plates  7 , on which axle  10  at least one sheave  11  is arranged between the plates  7 . The bent upper parts  8  of the plates are may be detachably fastened by a wedge locking  29  to the suspender  4  in order to adjust the mutual distance between the bearing wheels  5  arranged on opposite sides by means of the suspender  4 . 
     The trolley of the hoist comprises, in addition to the frame structure  1 , also other parts that are not shown in the figures. The trolley comprises a hoisting mechanism which has a rope drum with a rope groove for the hoisting rope. The trolley comprises rope pulley arrangements that have upper sheave arrangements and lower sheave arrangements. Through the rope pulley arrangement, the hoisting rope may be guided from the rope drum to a fastening point. The trolley further has a hoisting member, cooperating with the hoisting rope, to hoist a load. The fastening point of a first end of the hoisting rope may be adapted, depending of the roping arrangement, on the hoisting member or support frame structure  2 , for example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the support frame structure  2 , secured to the bearing wheel arrangement  3  by suspenders  4 , is placed below the lower flange of the main support structure  12  in its immediate vicinity. In such a case, the location of the sheave  11  between the plates  7  of the support frame structure also becomes closer to the main support structure  12 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the upper part  8  of the plate is bent into a substantially horizontal plane. In the figures, the plate  7  of the support frame structure is bent in such a way that the plate  7  is substantially L-shaped, and the plates of the support frame structure are mirror image profiles of each other. 
     According to an embodiment, the frame structure of a hoist comprises a frame structure of a rope hoist, and at the middle part of the first plate  7  of the support frame structure  2  there is arranged a fastening point  13  for the hoisting rope, to which a free end of the hoisting rope may be attached. The fastening point  13  is advantageously formed to an end of the axle  10  passing through the plates  7  of the support frame structure. 
     According to an embodiment, there is arranged, at the middle part of a second plate  7  of the support frame structure, a joining point  14  for other parts of the hoist, such as the rope drum of the hoisting rope. The joining point  14  is advantageously formed to an end of the axle  10  passing through the plates  7  of the support frame structure. For example, a second parts entity adapted to move on the wheels may be joined to the joining point  14 , to which parts entity the rope drum has been adapted with its drive motors and gears. 
     According to an embodiment, the two plates  7  of the support frame structure are arranged face-to-face at a distance from each other by means of spacers  15 , such as bushings. The location of the spacers  15 , bushings, in the height direction h of the support frame structure  2  is so arranged that a lower part  18  of the suspender  4  has room to move in the space left between the spacers  15  and the bent upper parts  8  of the plates. 
       FIGS. 6 to 7  show the suspender  4  of the frame structure. The suspender  4  comprises an upper part  16 , a middle part  17 , and a lower part  18 . The upper part  16  of the suspender has connecting means to the bearing wheel arrangement  3 . According to an embodiment, the suspender  4  is connected by its upper part  16  to the bearing wheel arrangement  3  by an axle joint  28 . An axle joint sustains radial forces well. An axle joint is additionally economic to manufacture. Furthermore, an axle joint is a secure joint that does not open by mistake. In connection with the axle joint  28 , it is advantageous that the suspender  4  is connected by its middle part  17  to the bearing wheel arrangement  3  by an screw joint  19 . This screw joint  19  prevents rotation around the axle joint  28 . The screw joint  19  to the bearing wheel arrangement  3  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
     In the upper part  16  of the suspender, a hoisting lug  20  may also be formed, for the purpose of installing a hoist, for example. 
     In the substantially horizontal lower part  18  of the suspender, there are connecting means to the support frame structure  2  of a hoist. The support frame structure  2  of a hoist may be detachably connected by a wedge locking  29  to the suspenders  4  at both of its ends  21 . The lower part  18  of the suspender is arranged on the inside of the support frame structure  2 , the upper surface of the lower part against the lower surface of the bent upper parts  8  of the plates. The vertical middle part  17  and upper part  16  of the suspender protrude upwards from a gap  9  formed between the bent upper parts  8  of the plates  7  of the support frame structure. The bent upper parts  8  of the plates are arranged between the lower part  18  of the suspender and upper reinforcement plates  22  fastened to the middle part  17  of the suspender. 
     The upper reinforcement plates  22  covering the lower part  18  of the suspender are set against the upper surfaces of the bent upper parts  8  of the plates  7  of the support frame structure on the outside of the support frame structure  2 , transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction L of the plates ( FIG. 1 ). The upper reinforcement plates  22  are connected to the middle part  17  of the suspender  4 . The upper reinforcement plates  22  are advantageously formed to extend at least partly over the vertical side surfaces of the plates  7  to improve the sturdiness of the fastening. 
       FIG. 7  shows the suspender  4  with the upper reinforcement plates  22  removed. The lower part  18  of the suspender comprises a lower reinforcement plate  23  and wedge parts  24 . The lower reinforcement plate  23  sets transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction L of the support frame structure  2  below the bent upper parts  8  of both plates. The wedge parts  24  are arranged on both sides of the middle part  17  of the suspender, over the lower reinforcement plate  23 . The wedge parts  24  are advantageously placed in compartments  25  formed in the lower reinforcement plate  23 . The wedge locking  29  between the suspender  4  and support frame structure  2  is achieved by moving the wedge part  24 , thicker at one of its ends, along a sloping surface of the reinforcement plate  23  between the lower reinforcement plate and the bent upper part  8  of the support frame structure. The sloping surface of the lower reinforcement plate  23  may be achieved with a changing material thickness, for example. By loosening the wedge locking  29 , the pressure between the suspender  4  and support frame structure  2  is removed, and the suspender  4  may be moved. 
       FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of a suspender which may be used in the frame structure of a hoist of  FIGS. 1-5 . The embodiment of  FIG. 8  largely corresponds to the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , wherefore in the following the embodiment of  FIG. 8  will be explained primarily by disclosing differences between these embodiments. In  FIG. 8 , the locking of the suspender and the support frame structure is implemented by a bolt locking  30 . The bolt locking  30  comprises a clamp part  31  and at least one fastener  32 . The embodiment of  FIG. 8  comprises two fasteners, which may be bolts, for example. Furthermore, the bolt locking  30  may comprise base plates  33  for the bolts  32 . In  FIG. 8  the bolts  32  are arranged to lock the suspender to the support frame structure  2  with the clamp part  31  wherein the bolts  32  are arranged vertically through holes  34  in a lower part  35  of the suspender, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The suspender of  FIG. 8  comprises an opening  36  in a middle part  37  of the suspender. The opening  36  is wide enough so that the clamp part  31  may be inserted through the opening  36  and on top of the lower part  35  of the suspender for locking the suspender to the support frame structure. Furthermore, an upper part  38  of the suspender comprises connecting means for connecting the suspender to the bearing wheel arrangement  3 . The connecting means may comprise a connecting plate  39  and two fasteners  40 , for example, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In addition, the upper part  38  of the suspender comprises a shoulder  41 . In  FIG. 8 , the suspender is also connected to the bearing wheel arrangement  3  from its middle part  37  by a bolt and plate joint  42  comprising a plate  43 , a bolt  44  and a protrusion  45  in the middle part  37  of the suspender. 
     The suspenders  4  detachably connected to both ends  21  of the support frame structure  2  may move steplessly in the longitudinal direction L of the support frame structure  2 . Consequently the mutual distance s between the bearing wheels  5  fixed to the suspenders  4  may be adjusted by shifting the fastening points of the suspenders  4  on the support frame structure  2  closer to each other or further away from each other. Due to the adjustable distance s, a hoist may be suspended to be supported by main supports of different sizes. 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  show an embodiment of the bearing wheel arrangement  3 , which comprises, on opposite sides of a hoist, at all times at least two arranged bearing wheels  5 . Bearing wheels  5  on the same side of a hoist are at any one time arranged to the same suspender part  26  which is attached by the suspender  4  to the support frame structure  2 . Supported by the bearing wheels  5 , the entire hoist moves along the upper surface of the lower flange of the main support structure  12 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the bearing wheel arrangement  3  where on opposite sides of the hoist in its direction of movement trolley flanges  27  have been arranged, on which the bearing wheels  5  connect. There are always at least two bearing wheels  5  on both sides. The bearing wheels  5  are located on the inner sides of the trolley flanges  27 , facing the main support structure  12 , and supported by which the trolley flanges  27  and consequently the entire hoist moves along the upper surface of the lower flange of the main support structure  12 . 
     With the solution according to the invention, a small height dimension of the hoist is achieved, which enlarges the hoisting height. The distance of the upper roping components, such as the sheaves, to the main support structure can be made small with the solution. 
     The frame structure of the hoist allows the hoist to be adapted on the main support structure in a simple and fast manner. The distance between bearing wheels and their suspension parts adapted on opposite sides of the main support structure, or the trolley flanges, is continuously adjustable. This improves the installability and maintainability of the hoist. 
     A support frame structure formed of plates has a lower weight than the conventional frame structure. This, too, for its part improves the installability and maintainability of the hoist. 
     Parts list:  1  frame part of a hoist;  2  support frame structure;  3  bearing wheel arrangement;  4  suspender;  5  bearing wheel;  6  upper sheave arrangement;  7  plate of support frame structure;  8  upper part of plate  9 ; gap;  10  axle;  11  sheave;  12  main support structure;  13  fastening point;  14  joining point;  15  spacer;  16  upper part;  17  middle part;  18  lower part;  19  screw joint;  20  hoisting lug;  21  end;  22  upper reinforcement plate;  23  lower reinforcement plate;  24  wedge part;  25  compartment;  26  suspension part ;  27  trolley flange;  28  axle joint;  29  wedge locking. 
     h height direction; L longitudinal direction; s distance between bearing wheels; x direction of movement. 
     A person skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the above-described examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.