US 11,866,304 B2
Apparatus and method for controlling a slewing gear and crane
Richard Torghele, Bartholomaeberg (AT); and Christof Gassner, Ludesch (AT)
Assigned to LIEBHERR-WERK NENZING GMBH, Nenzing (AT)
Filed by Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH, Nenzing (AT)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/651,007.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 103 488.4 (DE), filed on Feb. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340396 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B66C 13/30 (2006.01); B66C 23/84 (2006.01)
CPC B66C 13/30 (2013.01) [B66C 23/84 (2013.01); B66C 2700/082 (2013.01); B66C 2700/084 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for controlling a crane slewing gear comprising
at least one hydraulic motor by means of which the slewing gear is rotationally drivable or brakable;
at least one holding brake by means of which the slewing gear is held stationary;
a hydraulic brake circuit by means of which the holding brake is hydraulically controllable;
a load sensing device by means of which a load instantaneously taken up by the crane is sensed; and
an orientation sensing device by means of which an instantaneous orientation of the crane and/or of at least one crane component is sensed,
wherein
a hydraulic limitation circuit by means of which a hydraulic pressure applied to the motor is limited to a specific limit value; and
a control unit that is connected to the limitation circuit and that is configured to determine a maximum permitted torque and/or a parameter derived therefrom for a current rotational movement of the slewing gear in dependence on at least the sensed load and the sensed orientation and to automatically limit an angular acceleration and/or angular speed of the slewing gear on this basis by a corresponding control or regulation of the limiting circuit,
wherein the limitation and brake circuits are connected to one another and are configured to automatically brake the slewing gear while maintaining the slewing gear limitation on a failure of the control unit or on a triggering of an emergency stop.